Richmond International Airport sets record for most guns caught at its checkpoints in 2024

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond International Airport has set a record for the most guns caught at its checkpoints in a year. According to a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), officers intercepted 145 handguns at Virginia airport security checkpoints in 2024, which was the most guns ever detected in a single year. Officials said four airports in Virginia set records for the most guns caught at their checkpoints in a year, with 32 guns caught at the Richmond International Airport in 2024. The other Virginia airports were Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport with 41 guns, Norfolk International Airport with 34 guns and Washington Dulles International Airport with 29 guns in 2024. All of the firearms were reportedly discovered by TSA officers during the routine screening of carry-on property at airport security checkpoints. Nationwide, TSA officers reportedly detected 6,678 firearms at airport checkpoints in 2024, which was a small decrease compared to 6,737 firearms intercepted at airport checkpoints in 2023. The spokesperson said 2024 saw the first annual decrease in firearms detected at checkpoints except in 2020 when COVID saw a sizeable decrease in the number of passengers who flew. Of the guns caught in 2024, officials said about 94% of them were loaded. According to officials, a majority of individuals with firearms at checkpoints claimed that they forgot that their gun was in their carry-on bag. Penalties for bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint vary depending on the jurisdiction, however, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is a criminal act to bring a firearm to the checkpoint. For information on how to properly travel with a firearm, visit TSA's website.