Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped 51 handguns at New York City area airport checkpoints in 2023, a notable increase from the 39 guns caught in 2022. Each of the firearms was discovered by TSA officers during the routine screening of carry-on property at airport security checkpoints.
Nationwide, TSA officers detected 6,737 firearms at airport security checkpoints in 2023. It was a significant increase from the 6,542 detected in 2022. Of the guns caught in 2023, approximately 93 percent were loaded. Firearms were caught at 265 airport checkpoints nationwide.
TSA Firearms Catches at New York City Area Airport Checkpoints, 2018 to 2023
| NY Area Airport | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) | 14 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 20 |
| John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) | 2 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 15 |
| LaGuardia Airport (LGA) | 2 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 9 |
| Westchester County Airport(HPN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| New York Stewart International Airport (SWF) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 20 | 27 | 17 | 26 | 39 | 51 |
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Mostly concealed firearms license holders. So perhaps better education at TSA check points could resolve most of those unfortunate encounters.