These days, a growing number of people are traveling for work, leisure, and to spend time with their loved ones. Travel temporarily came to a halt in the wake of the COVID pandemic, but is now back with a vengeance.

When it comes to air travel, some airlines have struggled to meet the rising demand of people catching flights.

This led to more scrutiny of airlines, along with calls for greater consequences when people miss flights, connections, or suffer extremely long delays or cancellations because of airlines.

The US Transportation Department has even come under fire over this.

However, another change in air travel that's existed for quite some time is the rise of people trying to illegally take their firearms through airport security in their carry-on bags.

Why is this happening?

In the United States, people can legally travel with firearms by adhering to the following steps:

• Putting the unloaded weapon in a locked hard-side case
• Stowing this locked, hard-side case in their checked bag
• Declaring the properly encased firearm to the airline they're flying with
• Making sure their places of departure and arrival permit firearms

In spite of these clear steps, many travelers are still choosing to try their luck with getting firearms through airport security checkpoints. Apparently, the signs airports have warning people that guns cannot go through airport security still aren't dissuading enough people.

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), some employees are confiscating multiple guns per week via airport security checkpoints.

2022 saw a record number of Americans not properly traveling with firearms. However, TSA believes this year could top the new record set in 2022. Right now, a civil penalty of $14,950 exists for travelers who transport their guns in airports via carry-on bags.

Travelers who do this likewise remain subject to arrest, firearm confiscation, and being ineligible for TSA PreCheck for up to five years.

Where is this issue most prevalent?

Some airports and communities documenting this problem most frequently are as follows:

• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
• Denver International Airport
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Washington DC
• Philadelphia
• Seattle
• New Orleans
• North Carolina
• Texas
• Tennessee