TSA discovered record number of firearms in Idaho airports in 2021. Here’s how Boise fared
Travel may have been a difficult decision throughout the United States in 2021 as COVID-19 continued to rampantly spread, but that didn’t stop the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from discovering a record number of undeclared firearms in carry-on luggage in Idaho airports this past year.
The TSA discovered 40 firearms in carry-on luggage in the state in 2021, with 34 of those coming from Boise Airport. Four were also found at Idaho Falls Regional Airport and a firearm apiece at Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport in Lewiston and Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls.
Boise Airport ranks 44th in the nation for discovered firearms last year as the TSA also set a national annual record with 5,972 firearms discovered in 2021. All those firearms were discovered through the routine X-ray screening of carry-on property.
“TSA Idaho is very proud of the role we have continued to play for almost 20 years now by keeping people safe and secure on airplanes in the Gem State. Even so, we sincerely wish there were less opportunities to find guns in passengers’ luggage,” Andy Coose, TSA federal security director for Idaho, said in a press release.
Throughout Idaho’s six commercial airports — the four named above plus Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey and Pocatello Region Airport in Pocatello — TSA officers screened approximately 2.4 million passengers and crew in 2021.
That’s up from 2020’s total of 1.3 million passengers and crew statewide. The TSA discovered just 24 firearms statewide in 2020.
The punishment for trying to sneak a firearm through a TSA check is more than just the potential criminal citations. Travelers can also face civil penalties, including disqualification from having Trusted Traveler status and revocation of TSA PreCheck expedited screening benefits.
The TSA evaluates each firearm on a case-by-case basis and decides on the punishment based on a number of factors, including whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition.
Even if a traveler has a concealed weapons permit, they’re not allowed to store weapons in their carry-on luggage.
“The numbers tell the story, and too many people are bringing guns in carry-on bags,” Coose said. “Before you head to the airport, we implore all passengers to carefully inspect the contents of your own bag to ensure you don’t have anything prohibited with you when you get to the TSA checkpoint.”
That’s not to say that a firearm can’t be transported on a commercial flight.
During the check-in process, travelers can declare a firearm, ammunition and any firearm parts at the airline ticket counter. From there, the firearm can be transported if it is unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage.
