TSA found a record number of guns at the nation's airports in 2023. See where Nashville ranks

Molly Davis, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

The Transportation Security Administration in 2023 found the highest amount of guns at airport security checkpoint since 9/11, the agency announced this week. Nashville International Airport ranked in the top ten on that list.

In 2023, TSA discovered 6,737 guns in carry-on bags across 265 airports. At Nashville's BNA there were 188 guns discovered, putting the city at number five on the list. Approximately 93% of the firearms stopped at security checkpoints across the country were loaded.

Ranking in the top spot was Atlanta's Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport with 451 gun discoveries over the course of the year.

Though the number of guns found this year was about 200 higher than in 2022, the rate of guns discovered was slightly improved. TSA reported it screened more than 858 million individuals in 2023 for a rate of 7.8 firearms per million passengers. The agency discovered 8.6 guns per million passengers in 2022.

Which airports had the most confiscated guns?

In 2023, guns were found and confiscated most often at the following 10 airports:

  1. 451 guns found at ATL (Atlanta, Georiga)

  2. 378 guns found at DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas)

  3. 311 guns found at IAH (Houston, Texas)

  4. 235 guns found at PHX (Phoenix, Arizona)

  5. 188 guns found at BNA (Nashville, Tennessee)

  6. 178 guns found at DEN (Denver, Colorado)

  7. 164 guns found at MCO (Orlando, Florida)

  8. 144 guns found at TPA (Tampa, Florida)

  9. 135 guns found at FLL (Fort Lauderdale)

  10. 125 guns found at DAL (Dallas, Texas)

What happens if TSA finds a gun?

When TSA finds a firearm in carry-on baggage, law enforcement is immediately contacted and the person is removed from the security checkpoint area. Depending on local laws, the person may be arrested or given a citation by law enforcement.

TSA does not confiscate firearms, but it was the authority to issue fines to passengers carrying guns, up to $15,000.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSA: Nashville airport among top 10 US airports where guns were found