Two handguns confiscated at South Bend airport as TSA says firearm seizures are on the rise

Marek Mazurek, South Bend Tribune
·2 min read
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SOUTH BEND — Law enforcement at South Bend International Airport confiscated two loaded guns Tuesday as a passenger attempted to bring the weapons through the security checkpoint.

Including Tuesday's incident, nine firearms have been confiscated at the South Bend airport so far this year, almost doubling last year's total of five.

Two handguns confiscated at the South Bend Airport on Tuesday July 5, 2022.
Two handguns confiscated at the South Bend Airport on Tuesday July 5, 2022.

According to a release from the TSA, an officer spotted the guns during a screening of carry-on luggage shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday. Per protocol, the TSA agent notified the Saint Joseph County Airport Public Safety Department and took possession of the guns.

The traveler was from Shipshewana and had a concealed carry permit, the release said, though handgun permits do not allow guns to be taken onto airplanes. South Bend airport spokeswoman Julie Curtis said the passenger was released, but the incident was forwarded to the prosecutor's office for possible criminal charges.

Jessica Mayle, a TSA spokeswoman, added that the TSA can issue civil fines, usually $4,000 for first-time offenders. A fine will be issued to the passenger from Shipshewana, but the amount hasn't been determined yet, according to Mayle.

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"Most of the time when people bring a firearm, it's 'Oh my God I forgot that was in my bag.' We're just reminding people you are responsible for what's in your bag. It's not allowed to bring a gun through a checkpoint onto an airplane," Mayle said.

Mayle added that the TSA is seeing an increased number of people with guns in their baggage and the agency is on pace to confiscate a record number of firearms in 2022. As of July 5, the TSA had encountered more than 3,000 firearms at airports, which is around 17 guns confiscated a day.

"It's a nationwide problem," said Mayle. "What we find is just as there is more gun ownership in the country, we are detecting more guns at airports."

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In addition to being a safety risk, Mayle added that attempting to bring a gun through security is disruptive and causes delays for other passengers. She also noted travelers wishing to fly with firearms can do so by placing them, unloaded, in a locked, hard-sided container in checked baggage. Any ammunition must be stored separately from the gun and both components must be declared to the airline when checking the bag.

Email Marek Mazurek at mmazurek@sbtinfo.com. Follow him on Twitter: @marek_mazurek

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: TSA confiscates pair of loaded guns at South Bend Airport