TSA agents seize two loaded guns on the same day at MSP Airport

Twice in one day, TSA agents found a loaded gun in a passenger’s carry-on luggage at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Agents found the weapons in separate incidents on Tuesday as the passengers went through security checkpoints, the Transportation Security Administration said.

Airport police responded to both incidents and in both cases confiscated the firearms.

“Bringing a firearm to the checkpoint is a careless, expensive mistake that increases risks to passengers and airport employees,” said Marty Robinson, TSA’s federal security director for Minnesota. “Individuals who own firearms should familiarize themselves with regulations regarding where their weapons can and cannot be carried.”

TSA agents have found and confiscated 22 guns this year. That compares with 52 for all of last year.

In 2024, agents found two firearms in checked luggage at the Duluth International Airport and one in Rochester.

Passengers caught with a loaded gun at a security checkpoint can face local police action and a federal civil fine of up to $17,062, with the amount determined by circumstance and whether the passenger is a repeat offender, according to the TSA’s sanction schedule.

In addition, the TSA can revoke TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years for passengers caught with a firearm in their possession.

The TSA considers a firearm to be “loaded” when both the firearm and its ammunition are accessible to the passenger.

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if the weapons are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared to the airline at the check-in counter, per TSA guidelines.

Airlines may have additional rules and requirements for passengers traveling with guns and ammunition, the TSA said.

The TSA reminds passengers to remove prohibited items from baggage before heading to the airport.

“With our summer travel season underway, we strongly encourage passengers to pack smart and start with an empty bag,” Robinson said.