ORLANDO, Fla. — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) saw a slight decrease in firearms carried in carry-on luggage in Florida through 2024.
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The total number of firearms recovered through 2024, 817, is a slight decrease of the firearms recovered in 2023, which was 834.
The following is a breakdown of several airports throughout the state showing their 2023 and 2024 statistics:
- Orlando Int’l
- 2023: 164
- 2024: 150
- Tampa Int’l
- 2023: 144
- 2024: 135
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int’l
- 2023: 135
- 2024: 113
- Miami Int’l
- 2023: 78
- 2024: 113
- Jacksonville Int’l
- 2023: 74
- 2024: 61
Throughout Florida, TSA officers screened approximately 114.4 million departing travelers. The rate at which a firearm was detected was about every 140,000 travelers.
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When a firearm is detected through an X-ray screening, TSA notifies local airport law enforcement, who will remove the firearm from the X-ray tunnel and make contact with the traveler. What happens to both the firearm and the traveler is up to the discretion of the agency, however, travelers can also face a civil penalty of up to $14,950.
Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case, and placed in checked baggage. Any type of replica firearm is prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be transported in checked luggage.
At the airport during the check-in process, a passenger needs to go to the airline ticket counter to declare the firearm, ammunition, and any firearm parts. Prior to traveling, passengers are encouraged to check gun laws and regulations at their destination to ensure they comply with local and state laws. TSA also recommends travelers check with their airline before their flight to ensure they comply with any airline-specific requirements.
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