LOUISVILLE, Ky. — More guns have been stopped at airports in Kentucky during the first half of 2024 than were found at this point last year.
A total of 64 firearms have been discovered in travelers' carry-on luggage at Kentucky airports so far this year. 54 firearms were found during the first six months of 2023. That is a 21.5% increase in discovered firearms at checkpoints in the Bluegrass State.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport alone have stopped 27 firearms at TSA checkpoints this year. Last year by this point, 22 guns were discovered. That's a nearly 23% increase.
Close behind, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport have found 25 firearms so far. TSA officers at CVG stopped 22 guns this time last year.
How does Kentucky compare to the rest of the US?
Nationwide, a firearm was detected for every 135,560 passengers screened, according to TSA. In the Bluegrass State, the rate was almost twice the national with one firearm discovered for every 68,857 passengers screened.
While Kentucky saw an overall 21.5% increase in guns found at TSA checkpoints so far this year, the United States saw a 0.5% increase in firearms stopped at checkpoints.
One reason more guns are being found at Kentucky airports checkpoints could be that more people are being screened. TSA screened nearly 4.27 million departing travelers at Kentucky airports — an increase of 10.8 percent over the 2023 mid-year total, according to a TSA news release.
What happens when a gun is found at a TSA checkpoint?
When a TSA officer sees the image of a firearm on an X-ray screen, TSA officials say local airport law enforcement agencies are immediately notified and respond to the security checkpoint.
A law enforcement officer then removes the firearm from the X-ray tunnel and speaks to the traveler. What happens to the firearm and the traveler is up to the discretion of the airport law enforcement agency.
Travelers who are caught attempting to get firearms through security checkpoints may face potential criminal citations or may be arrested by local law enforcement. TSA may also issue a civil penalty to the traveler, which can go up as much as $15,000 per violation.
Individuals who violate rules regarding traveling with firearms will also have TSA PreCheck eligibility revoked for a period of up to five years and will receive enhanced screening during future travels.
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