TSA Reports Handgun Seizures in 2022
(New York, NY) — New TSA data indicates the number of handguns seized at LAX last year is 76. By comparison, TSA officers stopped 39 handguns at area airports in 2022, up from 26 in 2021. Los Angeles International was ranked 26th, well behind the top 3, Atlanta, DFW and Houston Bush. LaGuardia saw the biggest jump in handgun seizures, with eleven found during routine carry-on screenings at security checkpoints versus four in 2021. Westchester County Airport went from zero to four handguns year to year, and Stewart International Airport went from one to three guns year over year. Newark Airport recorded an increase from 12 to 14 guns, and JFK was the only location to see a drop in seizures from nine firearms in 2021 to seven last year. Firearms were seized at 262 checkpoints nationwide last year, and about 88-percent of those weapons were loaded.
LAX does not even make the top 10! See charts below:
From TSA.com
| Top 10 airports with guns caught by TSA at checkpoints in 2022 | ||
| Rank | Airport (Code) | Total |
| 1 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) | 448 |
| 2 | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | 385 |
| 3 | Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) | 298 |
| 4 | Nashville International Airport (BNA) | 213 |
| 5 | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) | 196 |
| 6 | Orlando International Airport (MCO) | 162 |
| 7 | Denver International Airport (DEN) | 156 |
| 8 | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | 150 |
| 9 | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) | 134 |
| 10 | Tampa International Airport (TPA) | 131 |
LAX had 76 gun seizures, #26 in the USA! From the TSA press release:
While TSA continues to set new records annually at the national level for the number of firearms discovered in carry-on bags, only two of the five local airports set an annual record. Below is a summary of TSA firearm discoveries at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Ontario International Airport (ONT), John Wayne Airport Orange County (SNA), Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Long Beach Airport (LGB) and nationally for the past five years:
| Airport | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| LAX | 57 | 44 | 43 | 89 | 76 |
| ONT | 12 | 9 | 11 | 23 | 31 |
| SNA | 12 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 18 |
| BUR | 12 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 12 |
| LGB | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| LA-area totals: | 94 | 76 | 81 | 144 | 142 |
| National totals: | 4,239 | 4,432 | 3,257 | 5,972 | 6,542 |
* No firearms were discovered at San Bernardino International Airport, which started commercial air service in August 2022.
National statistics: Firearms caughtby TSA at checkpoints, 2008 to 2022
| Year | Nationwide |
| 2022 | 6,542 |
| 2021 | 5,972 |
| 2020 | 3,257 |
| 2019 | 4,432 |
| 2018 | 4,239 |
| 2017 | 3,957 |
| 2016 | 3,391 |
| 2015 | 2,653 |
| 2014 | 2,212 |
| 2013 | 1,813 |
| 2012 | 1,556 |
| 2011 | 1,320 |
| 2010 | 1,123 |
| 2009 | 976 |
| 2008 | 926 |
Photo: LouiesWorld1 / Shutterstock.com