APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) - Officials with the TSA are reminding passengers that firearms are never allowed in carry-on baggage after they intercepted two firearms in one day at the Appleton International Airport (ATW). According to a release from the Transportation Security Administration, at around 5:30 a.m. on Monday, TSA officers spotted the image of two handguns on the X-ray screen during a routine screening of one bag. Green Bay coal pile owner agrees to meet with city on potential relocation The Outagamie County Sheriff's Office was immediately alerted with deputies responding to the airport and taking possession of the firearms that were both determined to be loaded. Despite a reported decrease in firearms being stopped throughout most Wisconsin airports in 2024 compared to 2023, just this month firearms have been detected at checkpoints in Dane County Regional Airport (MSN), Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA), and now Appleton International Airport (ATW). As we continue to project elevated travel volumes at airports across the state in the coming weeks and months, we urge passengers to start with an empty bag and ensure they aren’t inadvertently bringing any prohibited items to the checkpoint. Bringing a firearm in your carry-on bag is a careless, expensive mistake that introduces tremendous risk to the crowded checkpoint environment. TSA Wisconsin Federal Security Director Mark Lendvay In addition to actions taken by responding law enforcement, anyone who brings a firearm to a TSA checkpoint is fined by TSA up to $15,000, has their TSA PreCheck eligibility removed for at least five years, and could potentially go through an enhanced safety screening to ensure there are no other threats. Police investigating vandalism at BP gas station in Two Rivers Officials say passengers can travel with firearms given that the firearms are unloaded, packed separately from any ammunition locked in a hard-sided case, and declared at the airline check-in counter. Firearm possession laws do vary by state and locality, travelers looking for more information on how to properly travel with firearms and the firearm laws in the places they are flying to and from can click here. ...read more read less