TSA Confiscated 200 Firearms at U.S. Airports in October

[UPDATED 11/06/14: TSA Press Secretary Ross Feinstein tweeted @FlyerTalk that the agency confiscated 200 firearms in October. An earlier version of this article reported 181 firearms were confiscated.]

200 firearms, as well as dozens of other unusual weapons, were confiscated from passengers attempting to board airplanes at major U.S. airports in October.

The TSA reports its weekly findings of both real and fake weapons on its blog. According to a recent post, TSA searches of carry-on bags resulted in the confiscation of 200 guns in October. Of the guns confiscated, 157 of were loaded and one-third of those had rounds in the chamber. In the last week of October alone, 41 guns were removed from carry-on bags and confiscated at U.S. airports, 34 were loaded, with 10 holding chambered rounds.

Guns were not the only weapons found by TSA screeners last month. A search at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) turned up a cane that concealed a 13-inch sword.

In four separate instances, fake grenades were found in carry-on luggage at Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

At Honolulu International Airport (HNL), TSA screeners discovered an M18A1 mine kit, complete with wires and two blasting cap initiators, but no actual mines were found.

Gun components, realistic-looking toy guns, bb guns or pellet guns, airsoft guns, ammunition, brass knuckles, batons, and plenty of other prohibited items that are routinely confiscated by the TSA, although they are not always catalogued on the blog.

The blog advises flyers that “if an item looks like a real bomb, grenade, mine, etc., it is prohibited.”

[Photo: TSA Blog]