Number of guns carried in Oklahoma, national airports rising at higher rate than passengers
The number of guns being carried into Oklahoma airports is rising above pre-pandemic levels, even as passenger volume is yet to fully recover.
In 2021, 95 guns were detected at security checkpoints of three Oklahoma airports — Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, Tulsa International Airport and Stillwater Regional Airport. This is an increase over 82 and 84 guns detected in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Of those 95 detected guns, 48 were at the Tulsa airport, 46 were at Will Rogers in Oklahoma City, and one was at Stillwater Regional Airport. There were no guns found last year at the fourth Oklahoma airport with security checkpoints, Lawton/Fort Sill Regional Airport, the TSA said.
Most of the guns carried by passengers were loaded, the TSA said.
The Oklahoma numbers reflect a national trend and could be a symptom of more relaxed gun laws in some states, TSA spokesperson Patricia Mancha said.
"People assume, 'I can bring my gun to the grocery store, why not the airport?'" Mancha said.
Nationally, TSA officials last year caught a record 5,972 people carrying guns to security checkpoints, or a rate of 10.2 firearms per million passengers. The previous record was 4,432 in 2019, or 5 firearms per million passengers.
"The main concern there (is) the fact that although the number of travelers has decreased due to the pandemic, we didn't see a decrease in the number of guns that were found," Mancha said.
What happens when someone carries a gun to a security checkpoint?
When a passenger is found to have a gun on them or in their carry-on luggage, TSA notifies the local police department.
"This is not a fast process," Mancha said. "Many times the gun carrier may miss a flight, and based on the circumstances of the case, there may be an arrest."
Whether the carrier is arrested, prosecuted or neither, Mancha said TSA will always issue a fine, which can be up to $13,910.
The carrier also will be disqualified from TSA PreCheck.
"It isn't about TSA wanting to … keep you away from your gun," Mancha said. "It's about the security of all."
Preston Smolinski, TSA’s federal security director for airports in the state, said often people say they forgot they had their gun with them.
“That’s no excuse," Smolinski said. "If you own a firearm, you need to know where it is at all times. It’s part of being a responsible gun owner.”
How to safely travel with your gun
Anyone who wants to travel with their gun can do so by adhering to TSA standards.
First, the gun must be in a locked, hard-sided container. The passenger must declare their gun to the airline at the ticket counter, said Stacey Hamm, public information officer for Will Rogers World Airport.
"They will have you take out your firearm, they will inspect it to make sure that it is properly packaged in the right case and that it's not loaded," Hamm said.
Hamm said ammunition must also be securely packed, and each airline has its own standards for that.
The best option is to be familiar with both TSA and your specific airline standards to ensure you can check your gun and ammunition, she said.
"Don't just show up at the airport (with) it," Mancha said. "The key for us is that we really want to ensure that what is going on the plane, and not in the belly, is safe for everyone."
More than 1.7 million people went through security at Will Rogers World Airport in 2021, still below 2019's record-setting 2,287,599 prior to the pandemic.
So far, the first three months of 2022 have seen 329,797 people through security, an increase over last year's 243,904. But that still lags the 478,650 people in the first three months of 2019.
In Oklahoma City, there are three direct flights that have remained suspended since the pandemic began, but the airport has renewed most direct flights and added others. Most recently, Delta announced a direct flight from Oklahoma City to New York City's LaGuardia Airport.
By the numbers
Number of firearms detected annually at Oklahoma airports
Year;2018;2019;2020;2021;2022 as of 2/22/22
Will Rogers World Airport (OKC);42;50;28;46;3
Tulsa International Airport (TUL);39;29;27;48;4
Stillwater Regional Airport (SWO);1;4;1;1;1
Lawton/Ft Sill Regional Airport (LAW);0;1;1;0;0
Total; 82; 84; 57; 95;8
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: TSA reports increase in guns found at Oklahoma airports
