John Wayne Airport Loaded Firearm in Security Line Helps Make TSA History

John Wayne Airport became part of Transportation Security Administration history on Wednesday, when a loaded firearm plucked out of a carry-on bag was among 18 found in TSA lines nationwide. That broke the previous record of 13 found on May 20, 2013.

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The TSA Blog includes a weekly chart that tracks when and where firearms are found in bags being taken aboard airplanes at commercial airports. To be honest, John Wayne (referred to there as SNA) rarely makes the list, and it also seldom turns up in the rundown of ammo, knives and other forbidden weaponry recovered by TSA agents.

But on May 30, six days before the .40-caliber weapon helped make history on June 4, a loaded .22-caliber firearm was found in a John Wayne carry-on, according to the chart. There was no round chambered on May 30, but there was on June 4, the TSA adds.

Of the 47 guns found in carry-on bags at American airports last week, 36 were loaded, the TSA states.

Over at Long Beach, which was not among the airports where firearms were found last week, a credit-card knife was recovered in the security line, among 45 discovered nationwide by the TSA.

The TSA reminds that you can travel with firearms in checked baggage, but they must first be declared to the airline. Because firearm possession laws vary by state and locality, travelers are also advised to familiarize themselves with the laws of their destination states and localities prior to departure.

Besides earning the scorn of fellow passengers for slowing up the security line, those found with firearms in bags being taken aboard planes risk citations, arrests and fines of up to $7,500, according to the TSA.

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