The number of air passengers plummeted more than 60% across the country and in South Carolina last year in the midst of the pandemic, but the rate of passengers discovered with firearms in their carry-on doubled compared to 2019.
The Transport Security Administration reported on Friday that it detected fewer weapons in general in the U.S. and in the state of Palmetto last year during routine passenger screening, mainly because fewer people were flying, but the 10.2 gun rate per million travelers was double that of 2019, when 5 firearms per million ticket holders were discovered.
In SC, Greenville-Spartanburg airport led the state with 13 TSA firearms discoveries last year. Charleston International came next with 12, Myrtle Beach with nine and Columbia with seven.
The 41 discovered last year across the state fell from 63 in 2019, but the number equaled that of 2018, when many more people were flying to the skies than in 2020.
Last year, the TSA screened 2.6 million passengers in South Carolina, a drop of nearly 58 percent from 2019. But it discovered firearms at a rate of one for every 63,517 travelers screened, far greater than the national average of a firearm found for every 99,583 passengers who passed security checkpoints.
The number of firearms discovered during the screening last year in the United States reached 3,257, about 1,200 less than in 2019 and about 1,000 less than in 2018.
The total number of passengers screened in the U.S. last year was around 324 million, down from the 824 million that passed TSA control points in 2019.
“Despite the drop in passenger numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TSA officials across the country have discovered firearms in hand luggage at a rate twice that of 2019 and the highest rate since the agency’s inception. “said the TSA in a statement.
In addition to potential criminal citations, travelers face civil penalties for bringing firearms to the security checkpoint. TSA evaluates each firearm incident on a case-by-case basis. Among the factors that the TSA considers when determining the value of the civil penalty includes whether the firearm was loaded and whether ammunition was accessible.
The recommended civil penalty for a firearm starts at $ 2,050 and can go up to a maximum of $ 10,250 per violation. Even if the traveler has a concealed carry permit, firearms are not allowed in hand luggage, according to TSA.
In addition to civil penalties, individuals who violate firearm travel rules will have the status of trusted traveler and TSA PreCheck accelerated screening benefits revoked for a period of time. The duration of the disqualification will depend on the seriousness of the offense and whether there is a repeated history of violations.
Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a rigid and locked box and placed in checked baggage. Any type of replica of a firearm is prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be carried in checked baggage.
At the airport, during the check-in process, the passenger must go to the airline ticket counter to declare the firearm, ammunition and any parts of the firearm.
Before traveling, passengers are encouraged to check the firearms laws and regulations at their destinations to ensure they are in compliance with local and state laws. TSA also recommends that travelers check with their airline prior to their flight to ensure that they meet all airline-specific requirements.
For information, visit tsa.gov.
Reach Warren L. Wise at 843-937-5524. Follow him on Twitter @warrenlancewise.