DES MOINES, Iowa — Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Des Moines International Airport confiscated a handgun at the security checkpoint early Friday morning.
Officers noticed the gun, which was packed in a carry-on bag, on the X-ray screen during routine luggage screening around 6 a.m. on Jan. 26.
This blunder carries a potentially heavy penalty for the traveler, including a civil penalty up to approximately $15,000 and revocation of TSA PreCheck® eligibility for at least five years.
While passengers are allowed to travel with firearms, there is specific protocol to follow.
In Iowa, firearms must be:
- Unloaded
- Packed in checked baggage
- Separate from ammunition
- Locked in hard-sided case
- Declared at airline check-in counter
“Passengers are allowed to travel with their firearms and ammunition as long as they follow the proper procedures,” Iowa TSA Federal Security Director John Bright said in a release. “Responsible firearm owners always know where their guns are, and they should never bring them to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage.”
This was the second time a firearm has been confiscated at Des Moines International this year, with the first instance happening on Jan. 15. In 2023, only seven guns in total were detected at DSM, but more than 6,700 were discovered nationwide.
