The Transportation Security Administration, as well
as Port Authority police, held a news conference this morning after the agencies say they
have been disturbed by the large number of guns and ammunition being brought
into security checkpoints at Newark Liberty International Airport.
TSA officials say they have caught nine firearms at
security checkpoints at the airport so far this year – most of them, loaded –
including handguns, a rifle, a shotgun and loads of ammunition. That is
compared to 12 caught for the whole year in 2021, and 11 in 2019.
What happens if a firearm is
found in a carry on? Lanes are stopped, leading to long waits. Port Authority
police are called and officers begin investigating. Passengers are permitted to
travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, properly packaged
and declared at the airline ticket counter.
"Guns and ammunition are never allowed to be
carried through security check point and onto a flight, even if that traveler
has a permit for that firearm,” says Thomas Carter, Transportation Security Administration
Federal Security Director for State of New Jersey.
Last year, over 5.900 firearms were caught at
airport security checkpoints, 86% of them were loaded.