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(Des Moines, IA) -- Transportation Security Administration employees found 15-handguns at the Des Moines Airport last year, six more than were found in 2021. Nationally, T-S-A officers collected more than 65-hundred firearms at checkpoints at the nation's airports last year. That surpasses the previous record by 570. The T-S-A says 88-percent of the firearms found nationally were loaded.
Six weapons were found at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids in 2022. One was found at the Waterloo Regional Airport.
The TSA reports prior to the pandemic-related downturn in air travel, the yearly average for confiscated weapons in Des Moines was 12.
The penalty for bringing weapons to the airport can reach as high as $14,950, depending on the circumstances. TSA determines the penalty amount for a violation based on the circumstances in each case. TSA will continue to revoke TSA PreCheck® eligibility for at least five years for passengers caught with a firearm in their possession.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should check for firearm laws in the jurisdictions they are flying to and from.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.