Nearly 200 firearms found at Sky Harbor in 2022

By Rithwik Kalale
Published: Monday, January 23, 2023 - 5:59pm
Updated: Monday, January 23, 2023 - 6:12pm

TSA agents found 196 firearms in carry-on luggage at Sky Harbor in 2022. That matches the total from 2021 and is the fifth-highest mark in the U.S. Jerry Agnew, TSA security director for Arizona, says although this is not a new problem, it has reached an unacceptable level.

The TSA is holding a media briefing at Sky Harbor this week to show how passengers should travel with a firearm. 

Arizona airports in total found roughly 230 passengers with firearms in their carry-ons in both 2021 and 2022. Nationally, airports found roughly 6,000 firearms in passengers' carry-on luggage.

Sky Harbor TSA says it does not confiscate items, like guns, from travelers. Instead, passengers have the option to give their items to non-travelers, leave it behind in a car or voluntarily leave it behind at the security checkpoint.

When a firearm is detected via X-ray, the TSA contacts the police and the traveler can be responsible for up to $15,000 in fines.

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