COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is out with new information on the rise of guns discovered at South Carolina airports during the first half of 2024.
According to the data, the number of guns found at the checkpoint at Columbia Metropolitan Airport has gone up 62% compared to the first six months of 2023.
The TSA also said it screened more than 443 million people in the first half of 2024, up 7.3% from 2023.
Mark Howell with the TSA Public Affairs office said guns are found nearly twice as much among travelers in South Carolina versus the national average.
"We’re still continuing to see a lot of firearms being brought to security checkpoints, not only across the country but specifically in South Carolina,” Howell said.
And while it may be easy to forget you have a gun in your carry-on, Howell said the penalties for doing so can be severe.
"Because if you bring it to the checkpoint, you’re going to be subject to a citation or arrest," Howell said. "You can get a civil penalty from TSA of up to $15,000, and if you’re PreCheck, then you’re going to lose your PreCheck status as well for a period of up to five years.”
And while 99% of people say they forgot their firearm was in their bag, like you, that excuse probably won’t fly.
"Another consequence that happens as a result of all that, is that sometimes passengers will miss their flight,” Howell said.
Columbia Metropolitan Airport Police Chief Daniel Ruggiero said most of the passengers who are caught with a firearm are permit holders.
"Probably about 85% of the passengers that do get caught with a gun are concealed weapons permit holders,” Ruggiero said.
The chief said to look through anything you plan to carry on.
"The first thing is to check your bag. Just look through your bags, make sure there’s nothing in there, whether it’s a gun or a knife," Ruggiero said. "A lot of the college kids have the little pepper spray on a keychain and then that causes a whole thing at the checkpoint. So just be mindful of what you’re carrying."
Howell from the TSA said the administration has resources to educate the public on flying with their firearm.
"We have a video and all the steps outlined to pack it correctly on the TSA website. Look for our firearms and ammunition page to show you what you need to do," Howell said.
If you plan to check your firearm, contact your airline for additional information, as each company has its own firearms policy.
