TSA reminds travelers how to properly fly with firearms on aircraft

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs Municipal Airport and Transportation Security Administration officials are warning travelers about the penalties they could face if they're found with a firearm at the security checkpoint.

To avoid those civil penalties, officials are offering helpful tips so travelers know what to expect during what is expected to be a very busy spring break travel season nationally and locally.

So far in 2022, TSA officers have found nine firearms in travelers’ carry-on luggage at the COS security checkpoint. According to airport officials, that is a threefold increase over the same point in 2021. Every firearm was found during the routine screening of carry-on property at the airport security checkpoint.

The most recent firearm find was on Sunday, March 6.

Nationally, TSA officers have found more than 975 firearms in travelers’ carry-on luggage in 2022. This represents a 43% increase over the number discovered at this point in 2021.

“Every traveler needs to check the contents of their carry-on luggage prior to leaving home to ensure they are not bringing prohibited items of any type to the security checkpoint. This is especially true for those who are traveling with a firearm,” said TSA Federal Security Director Larry Nau. “The recent increase in the number of firearms discovered by TSA officers at COS forces me to state the obvious: one firearm discovery at the checkpoint is one firearm too many. Avoid making a mistake, avoid expensive civil penalties and properly pack your firearm for travel in checked luggage.”