Richmond and Virginia set new records for the most guns caught at TSA checkpoints
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Richmond International Airport set a record last year for the most guns caught at TSA checkpoints.
Why it matters: Carrying a gun through TSA and/or onto an airplane isn't just frowned upon, it's actually illegal in Virginia.
- And TSA and the airport spent some time last year trying to get Richmond passengers to quit doing it.
- They didn't.
By the numbers: 32 handguns were intercepted at RIC's TSA in 2024 and 145 handguns were caught trying to get through security statewide, per TSA.
- Both are records for Richmond and the state.
- Records were also set at Virginia's other large airports: 41 guns were caught at Reagan; 34 at Norfolk and 29 at Dulles.
Yes, but: Neither Virginia nor Richmond came close to touching the number of guns caught at airports in Atlanta, Dallas or Houston, where 440, 390 and 272 guns were caught, respectively.
Nationwide, TSA officers detected 6,678 firearms last year, fewer than they caught in 2023.
Flashback: In mid-June, when Richmond seemed on track to break its guns-in-the-airport record, TSA officials held an event at RIC to urge the public to stop doing it.
- 18 guns had been confiscated when they held the event, which means passengers would go on to attempt to bring another 14 through TSA before the year was out.
The bottom line: It's a new year, so let's try to do better in this one. Leave the gun at home, not in your carry-on.