NASHVILLE, Tenn. (OSBORNE) -- The number of guns confiscated at Nashville International Airport has jumped by roughly 60 percent in five years - 12 percent in the last year alone.
The Transportation Security Administration says 97 guns were seized at BNA in 2019. The agency notes that better than eight in ten guns it finds in carry on luggage are loaded.
TSA spokesman Mark Howell says that, in addition to whatever criminal penalties Nashville Police impose, passengers found carrying a weapon will also face stiff federal penalties.
“Typical average for a first time offender for an unloaded firearm is $2,400. It ranges to between $3,000 and $4,000 for a loaded firearm.”
Howell attributes the increase largely to rapid growth in the number of passengers screened at BNA. He says its clear the majority of persons caught caught with a gun had no ill intention, but simply forgot they had the weapon.
Although BNA is not among the nation's top 30 busiest airports, TSA says this past year it ranked 8th for the number of guns confiscated.
TSA notes that firearms can be carried in checked baggage when unloaded and placed in a hard-sided, lockable case. Howell says you can learn if specific items are prohibited using the banned item search tool on the agency website: TSA.gov.
ADDITIONAL STORY RESOURCES:
- Check out the TSA's banned item online search tool.
- Watch a humorous videoabout items confiscated last year by the TSA
- Informaion about the new https://youtu.be/C7S2VEc4l94">RealID program
