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TSA Confiscated Record Number of Guns in 2017. Guess How Many . . .

Chris Heuss - comments No comments

Many members of TTAG’s Armed Intelligentsia ain’t got time for gun owners who forget to remove their firearms from their briefcase or luggage before stepping up to the security theater known as a TSA checkpoint. Others — like our forgetful publisher — can understand how such a thing can happen. And it happened a lot last year. 2017 was a record year for TSA firearms confiscation . . .

The TSA confiscated 3,957 firearms nationwide in 2017. As this taxpayer-funded graphic reveals:

Notice the steady increase from 2005.

The TSA gives no explanation for this uptick; they’re not trumpeting their agents’ increased training or diligence. Probably because no one would believe them. It’s more likely that gun law liberalization has increased the absolute number of Americans packing heat — with no impact on the percentage of forgetful firearms owning airline passengers.

The TSA may impose civil penalties of up to $13,066 per violation per person for prohibited items violations and violations of other TSA regulations. Repeat violations result in higher penalties. But they don’t arrest people for forgotten firearms.

After the TSA officer discovers a firearm, they contact local law enforcement. It is they who decides whether to arrest the offending passenger, based on a background check, interview, local laws and gun culture.

When you fly, check you bags for guns and ammo. Click  here for the TSA’s take on travelling with your firearms. Remember: rules vary by airline, state and locality. If you’re diverted to a slave state (e.g., New York of New Jersey), DO NOT TOUCH YOUR CASE.

Have you ever found a gun you’d forgotten about?

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Chris Heuss

Chris was born and raised in Austin, Tx where he still lives with his wife and son. Chris grew up exploring and surveying caves with his father for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He is Co-Owner of Black Collar Arms.

0 thoughts on “TSA Confiscated Record Number of Guns in 2017. Guess How Many . . .”

  1. It’s 21 oz and 1.3 inches thick. Taking a compact size gun and chopping off the grip, barrel and 3 oz does not make it a good CCW gun. Or wow another Glock 26

    Reply
  2. The firearms industry has exactly the same amount of responsibility to reduce gun violence as the media industry has.

    Therefore, I insist that all media (film, music, newspapers, books, magazines, etc.) immediately cease glorifying, reporting, commenting, mentioning or even thinking about firearms.

    Reply
  3. The S&W on my hip will be used to stop “gun violence” of the opportunity presents itself.

    With upwards of a million defensive gun uses each year in this country, it would appear the firearms industry is doing quite a bit to help reduce “gun violence.”

    Reply
  4. Old Winchester 1885 .22 left by my great great grand father, multiple remmy 700s in various calibers over the past 100 years of my grandpa and Dad hunting, not to mention my favorite a miroku 12ga over/under made before the browning buyout

    Reply
  5. The Riefenstahls in the Goebbels media have a duty to reduce violence by no longer treating mass murderers and Islamic terrorists like rock stars.

    Reply
  6. Three guns featured here from shot show in the last week or so with carbon fiber barrels or carbon trim and the overall weight is not mentioned one time.

    Reply
  7. I saw a link about this yesterday that just said ‘gun control advocate’ or something so I refused to click (gotta draw the line somewhere). I figured it was probably Shannon though.

    As far as the parade, I’m assuming Thedonald didn’t mean for a N Korean style display as it’s been painted out to be by the leftist media. But there’s much better ways to use the money. Right now survivors of vets that commit suicide are left without benefits. Many of them can’t even afford to bury them. We put these vets through hell and then kick their widows out on the streets if they can’t deal with it. Lets fix this and leave the parades to the tin-pot dictators.

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