INDIANAPOLIS — The Transportation Security Administration announced on Friday that they stopped 78 handguns at security checkpoints within Indianapolis International Airport in 2024. The TSA called this "...a significant decrease from the all-time high of 95 [firearms] detected" in 2023. In other words, TSA said their officers detected about 13.3 firearms per million people screened in 2024, versus 17.6 firearms detected per million people screened in 2023. That's 5.9 million total people screened at TSA checkpoints in 2024 — up nine percent over 2023. At other Indiana airport checkpoints, the TSA reported the following statistics: Evansville Regional Airport (EVV): Seven firearms found in 2024, four in 2023 Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA): Seven firearms found in 2024, three in 2023 South Bend International Airport (SBN): Five firearms found in 2024, eight in 2023 Nationally, the TSA said they stopped 6,678 firearms last year — down from 6,737 in 2023 — or about 18 guns per day on average. 94% of these were loaded, the TSA said. “Bringing a firearm to the checkpoint is a careless, dangerous mistake that can be easily avoided,” Indiana TSA Federal Security Director Aaron Batt said. "...These incidents also slow down the checkpoint screening process for other travelers because when a firearm is detected, all activity in the lane comes to a complete halt until police arrive." Guns found at IND TSA checkpoints (TSA)Guns found at IND TSA checkpoints (TSA)Guns found at IND TSA checkpoints (TSA)Guns found at IND TSA checkpoints (TSA)Guns found at IND TSA checkpoints (TSA)Guns found at IND TSA checkpoints (TSA) While the TSA does not confiscate firearms, they said that when one is found, they immediately contact law enforcement, who remove the passenger and their firearm from a checkpoint. Passengers may be arrested or cited as well, depending on local laws. On top of that, the TSA said it fines passengers found with firearms at TSA checkpoints with a civil penalty of up to roughly $15,000. Passengers will also have their TSA PreCheck eligibility revoked for at least five years, and may be required to undergo enhanced screening. If one does wish to travel with a firearm, the proper protocol to do so can be found on this website.