TSA: Record-number of guns confiscated during last week of July

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Transportation Security Administration said it confiscated a record number of guns from carry-on bags during the last week of July.

"TSA discovered a record 96 firearms over the last week in carry-on bags around the nation. The previous record of 89 firearms was set last month," the agency said on its blog. "Of the 96 firearms discovered, 85 were loaded and 26 had a round chambered."

Although gun laws vary by state and locality, TSA said travelers who bring firearms through airport checkpoints can be arrested and fined up to $11,000.

The airport with the most confiscated guns was Atlanta, with 10.

In addition to nearly 100 guns, TSA found a variety of other weapons, including an inert grenade inside the shoe of a checked bag.

TSA reminded passengers not to bring grenades into airports.

"We don't know grenades are inert until our explosives professionals take a closer look, and that takes time and slows down the line. It can even lead to a complete shutdown and evacuation," the agency said. "Real, inert, or anything resembling a grenade is prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage."

While the number of weapons going through airports appears to have risen, that could be explained by more travelers this summer. Last month, TSA said it expected a record-number of travelers this summer, with 2.5 million people going through U.S. airports each day.