TSA Intercepts Gun at Des Moines International Airport, Surpassing Last Year's Total

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted a handgun at Des Moines International Airport (DSM) on Wednesday, marking the eighth firearm detected at the airport's checkpoints this year. This surpasses the total of seven firearms detected in all of 2023.

During routine carry-on luggage screening, a TSA officer identified the handgun on an X-ray screen around 10 a.m. TSA officials promptly alerted the Des Moines Police Department, who responded, confiscated the loaded firearm, and issued a citation.

The confiscated firearm was loaded with 14 rounds but none in the chamber. Iowa TSA Federal Security Director John Bright emphasized the impact such incidents have on operations, particularly during peak travel times. He noted, "Bringing a firearm to a security checkpoint not only slows down the individuals in that lane, but it slows everyone in line behind them down and is a security and safety concern."

This year, over 1,500 firearms have been stopped at airport checkpoints across the country in the first quarter alone. The penalty for bringing a firearm to a checkpoint can reach up to $14,950, with penalties varying based on the specific circumstances of each case. Additionally, passengers caught with firearms face a minimum five-year revocation of TSA PreCheck® eligibility.

Passengers are allowed to travel with firearms in checked baggage if the firearms are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case, and declared at the airline check-in counter. However, firearm possession laws differ by state and locality, so travelers should verify the regulations in their destination and origin locations.