As the holiday travel season gets underway, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a reminder for airline passengers: Pack your weapon in your checked luggage or leave it at home.
Between Nov. 22-26, an approximate 51 million Americans – almost one out of every six of us – will travel more than 50 miles from home to celebrate Thanksgiving. Of those about 3.95 million will travel by air (producing around 7.9 million passenger trips with round trip tickets).
The TSA says 440 firearms have been found in carry-on bags at Florida airport checkpoints so far in 2017, up from 411 all of last year.
Tampa International Airport leads the state with 86 guns recovered this year, followed by Orlando International Airport with 81.
The TSA says most of those caught at a checkpoint with a firearm have the same excuse: "I forgot it was in my bag."