INDIANAPOLIS -- It’s a sight TSA officers say is getting more and more common – people trying to carry firearms onto a plane.
Rules and regulations of what you’re allowed to bring on an airplane may have changed over the past 10 years, but you’ve never been able to bring a firearm.
“83 percent of the time they’re loaded, less than that they are chambered,” said Aaron Batt, Indiana’s Federal Security Director for TSA.
So far in 2016, TSA officers have found 43 guns at Indianapolis International Airport alone – 13 more at other Indiana airports.
Last year, officers found 50 guns at Indianapolis International Airport.
Nationwide, TSA officers found more than 2,600 firearms at airports in 2016. Over 80 percent of those were loaded.
“The mass majority of people have a permit, but say they forgot,” said Batt.
Indianapolis came just outside the top 10 list with the most guns found according to TSA statistics from last year.
“I think a lot of people get anxious before they get to airports, and that might be one of the things they don’t necessarily think of or take care of before coming in,” said Batt.
So what happens if you try to go through security with a gun? Well, other than possible criminal charges, the mistake will hurt your wallet.
The penalties start at $1,300.
You can travel with a firearm, but it has to be checked. And there are specific guidelines you must follow, including declaring it at the airline counter when you check your bags.
You can find a list of those guidelines on the Transportation Security Administration website.
