TSA Sees Increase in Guns Confiscated, Third Year in a Row

Guns dot com

According to information compiled by the TSA, the agency in charge of transportation security, encountered over 1,800 guns in 2013, an increase of some 20 percent from the previous year. 

 This information comes from the Medill National Security Journalism Initiative for National Security Zone, who compiled the data directly from the TSA’s own popular ongoing blog.

In their data, more than 207 airports in the U.S. during 2013 had at least a single gun found. Of these Atlanta topped the list with over 110 guns found, a rate of about two guns a week. Following Atlanta was Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston’s Bush Airport.

It's interesting that the gigantic airports in New York, New Jersey and California are not on the list. The gun-friendly states are well-represented though.

Texas Man Brought Loaded Gun to NY Airport

ABC News

Authorities say a man from a Texas town called Gun Barrel City was caught with a loaded revolver in his carry-on bag at New York City's LaGuardia Airport.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police said Friday that security officers noticed the handgun as Douglas A. White went through a security screening Thursday.

Police say the 61-year-old White was charged with criminal possession of a loaded firearm.

He was in custody Friday and unavailable for comment. It wasn't clear whether he had an attorney.

Gun Barrel City is about 60 miles south of Dallas.

NBA Legend Bill Russell Cited for Loaded Gun at Seattle Airport

Boston Celtics' legend Bill Russell stands with his Presidential Medal of Freedom during the NBA All-Star basketball game in Los Angeles, in this file February 20, 2011 photo.

Credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok

Reuters

Transportation Security Administration officials found a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun in a male passenger's carry-on bag on Wednesday evening, according to a TSA spokeswoman. The man was traveling to Boston.

An airport spokesman, in a recorded telephone message, identified the passenger as Russell, the 79-year-old National Basketball Association Hall of Famer, who lives in the Seattle area.

The TSA spokeswoman said the gun contained six rounds. TSA contacted Port of Seattle police, who cited Russell for having a weapon in a prohibited area, a state violation, the airport message said. The firearm was confiscated, and Russell was released.

Firearms are prohibited in carry-on baggage. They may be carried unloaded in checked baggage and stored in a locked, hard-sided container, according to the TSA.

A representative for Russell could not be reached for comment.

Russell had been a star with the Boston Celtics in the 1950s and 60s, and was named NBA most valuable player five times. He later served as coach of the Seattle SuperSonics during the 1970s.

He's getting too old to safely use a gun anyway. The penalty should be complete loss of gun rights for life.

What's your opinion?  Please leave  a comment.

Another Gun at the Airport - Chicago

The Chicago Tribune reports

A Kansas man was arrested and charged with trying to board an aircraft with a gun after a loaded handgun was found in his carry-on luggage at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday, authorities said.

Dean Bieker, 54, faces a felony charge of trying to bring a loaded gun onto a plane, according to Cook County Jail records.

What could he possibly have been thinking?