By Anthony Kimery
HSToday

Seventy-five firearms were discovered last week in carry-on bags by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers around the nation. Of the 75 firearms discovered, 67 were loaded … and 31 had a round chambered.

A record-breaking 78 firearms were found one week in August in carry-on bags at airports around the nation, 68 of which were loaded and 21 had a round chambered, according to TSA.

The previous record of 74 firearms was set in May of 2016, 65 of which were loaded. This broke the previous record of 73 firearms set in April.

As Homeland Security Today has repeatedly reported, year after year the number of firearms confiscated by TSA continues to escalate. 2015 was a record setting year for firearms confiscations, with TSA intercepting 2,653 firearms—seven a day— in carry-on bags at airport security checkpoints across the United States.

That represents a nearly 20 percent increase over the 2,212 firearms discovered in 2014 in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country, averaging more than six firearms per day. Of those, 1,835 (83 percent) were loaded. Firearms were intercepted at a total of 224 airports; 19 more airports than during 2013.

The number of hand guns found in 2014 represented a 22 percent increase over the 1,813 firearms discovered by TSA in carry-on bags in 2013.

Of the 1,813 firearms TSA screeners found in carry-on bags in 2013, 1,477 (81 percent) were loaded. Firearms were intercepted at a total of 205 airports with Atlanta on top of the list for the most firearms intercepted (111).

Firearms confiscated by TSA screeners at 199 airports in carry-on bags in 2013 was a 16.5 percent increase (257) over the 1,556 firearms — or more than four firearms a day — discovered in 2012. A whopping 78.7 percent (1,215) were loaded and dozens had a round chambered.

Read the full article at HSToday.