The Transportation Security Administration found more firearms at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport's travel checkpoints than any other airport in the country, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
In 2014, the TSA screened more than 650 million passengers, and more than 2,200 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags. According to the DHS that's more than six firearms per day.
DFW Airport and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport ranked in the top five nationwide.
Top Airports for Firearms Discoveries in 2014:
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport: 120
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: 109
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport: 78
- Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport: 77
- Denver International Airport: 70
Dallas Love Field ranked 18 on the list with 43 confiscated firearms.
The DHS reports of the 120 firearms detected at DFW Airport, 106 were loaded and at Love Field of the 43 firearms found, 35 were loaded.
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An aviation security expert wasn't surprised by the statistics.
"I think the take-away from this is that in states where you have more gun permit issued more people are more comfortable caring weapons on their person and they’re more likely to forget that they have them or just not know the rules when they’re going through an airport," said Trenton Higareda, vice president at CTI Consultant.
He also said he doesn't see a reason for concern.
"I don't necessarily think its cause for alarm. I think if you live in a state where there are more restrictive gun laws you're not going to have as many guns coming through a checkpoint as you do say like in Houston or Dallas," said Higareda. "In places like New York and Chicago the numbers are either staying relatively the same or they’re going down."
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