Fear & Loading: Top 10 TSA Guns

by
posted on April 11, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
tsacheckpoint.jpg

If you’ve flown recently and someone sneezed 20 rows back, you know how effective airplanes are at incubating and spreading cultures. I recommend you get some rest, drink plenty of fluids and find a surgical mask vending machine before your next flight.

There’s a lot to remember before flying and when you add all those little things up, including disease, it’s easy to forget something. For those of us who carry, overlooking the handgun that rides daily in our bag or on our side would be disastrous and carries a potential of a $13,066 fine—per violation—when TSA discovers it.

It still happens to some, unfortunately, even with the fatiguing repeated and loud warnings. To put things in perspective, though, it’s no epidemic. TSA processed 771.5 million passengers last year and discovered only 3,957 firearms. That’s one person who forgot their gun for every 194,971 people coming through a checkpoint.

Yes, this blog is yet another reminder, but at least it’s more digestible than an airline snack. Here are the top 10 handgun makes TSA confiscated at security checkpoints for the two-week period between March 19 and April 1 (data that’s only been posting since last month, for some unexplained reason).

 

Naturally, there are assorted inert grenades, mortars, knives, snow globes and munchies, many of which you can view at the TSA blog. The weirdest stuff from 2017 is highlighted in the organization’s top 10 video blog.

And one more thing: Even if you’re an NFL wide receiver heading to Hawaii with a female friend, never, ever, ask if she remembered to pack the explosives while you’re checking in. I heard a rumor she was enjoying the beaches of Waikiki with a cabana boy named Joey. Odds are you haven’t heard that rumor either, because I’m not very practiced at spreading them—yet.

Latest

Shooting For 1000 1
Shooting For 1000 1

Reaching for 1,000: A Study in Long Range Marksmanship

Calculating all the factors that go into a well-placed shot at distance can be a daunting task for those new to long-distance marksmanship, but when it all comes together, the result is gratifying.

ATF Proposes Changes to Form 4473

The ATF proposed a series of changes to form 4473 in May. If approved, the modifications would shave three pages from the paperwork and eliminate a lot of the previous form’s confusing redundancy­, trimming questions for both the purchaser/transferee and FFL.

Roar of the Muskets: The North-South Skirmish Association

The North-South Skirmish Association keeps Civil War history alive through competition shoots using Civil War-era arms at its Fort Shenandoah home base, as well as at regional shoots across the country.

Interest in Gunsmithing Grows as Potential AI Safe Haven

We’re told AI could eventually eliminate every job, and the trades will just be the last to go. But a pair of experts dedicated to training gunsmiths have a different opinion on the fate of their graduates.

Pietta Re-Introduces Starr Revolver Models

Late last year, Pietta announced it would be re-introducing their Starr revolver in both its double-action and single-action form, and now, the guns are finally arriving stateside.

Why the Murder Rate Quickly Fell to a Likely Historic Low

If the gun-control Left is to be believed, then the murder rate in the U.S. should be going up. After all, gun sales and ownership rates have been rising for the last few decades and anti-gun groups claim that gun ownership is the cause of violent crime. This, of course, is nonsense.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.