Guns as carry-ons? TSA reports drop in firearms found at Sarasota Bradenton airport
The Transit Security Administration found fewer firearms on passengers at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport for the first half of this year compared to the same months last year, per a new report detailing its findings in all Florida airports.
TSA reported that it found eight firearms in the luggage of passengers traveling through SRQ in the first half of 2024, compared to 14 found during the same interim last year. The Orlando International Airport topped the list with 70 firearms found, followed by the Miami International Airport with 62 and the Tampa International Airport with 51.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport has a higher percentage of passengers with guns than Miami or Orlando
More than 1,450,000 passengers have traveled through SRQ this year, meaning about one in 181,337 passengers was found with a firearm given the eight firearms reported by TSA. The ratio is higher than the list’s toppers of Orlando (one in 213,295) and Miami (one in 226,348).
The Gainesville Regional Airport reported the state’s highest ratio at one in every 26,077 passengers, with six firearms found among 156,459 passengers. Other top ratios included the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport near Panama City with 14 firearms found (one in 35,138 passengers) and the Melbourne Orlando International Airport with 7 firearms found (one in 30,856 passengers)
TSA has collected almost 400 guns at Florida airports in 2024
Florida collectively reported 382 firearms found among 60,859,149 passengers screened at the 21 airports on the list. The numbers in this first half of the year are down from 396 firearms found at this time last year despite TSA screening 7.3% more passengers so far this year.
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Firearms are permissible on a plane if they are unloaded, packed in a locked case and transported in checked luggage, per a TSA press release. Passengers must declare the firearm and any ammunition at check-in.
Florida travelers who bring a firearm to an airport could be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor if they have a concealed carry permit or a third-degree felony if they don’t have one. Fines begin at $2,050 for unloaded weapons and $4,100 for loaded guns.
Contact Herald-Tribune Growth and Development Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @hmb_1013.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: TSA reports drop in firearms found among Sarasota airport passengers
