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Authorities work to slow flow of weapons at airport security checkpoints
A former Clayton County lawyer said he was not surprised to learn that other passengers had been arrested for weapons in their carry-on baggage. These cases are similar to hundreds of cases throughout the year.
ATLANTA – The manhunt continued Monday night against Kenny Wells, 42, a felon convicted of causing panic at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after his gun allegedly went off at the point of airport security check Saturday afternoon. Even after the scare, authorities said they found two more unchecked handguns in carry-on baggage over the weekend.
Last month, the TSA overall said, the number of firearms discovered in carry-on baggage is on the rise across the country. A record 4,495 firearms were seized at 248 airports in 2021. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, that number was 391, nearly double the number in 2020 and about 70 more than ‘in 2019.
A total of 11 firearms were found for every million passengers screened. This represents an increase from 10 guns for every million people screened in 2020, the TSA said.
ATLANTA AIRPORT CONTINUES TO TOP LIST OF MOST WEAPONS FOUND AT CHECKPOINTS
Manhunt Continues After Atlanta Airport Chaos
Police say Kenny Wells has been on the run since his gun allegedly detonated at the Atlanta airport security checkpoint on Saturday afternoon.
In 2011, the TSA reported that 1,320 firearms were captured in carry-on baggage, or about a quarter of the total in 2021. This, because several studies indicate that the number of households with firearms has in fact declined both in Georgia and across the country over the past decade. .
The airport queue is just not a place where you would expect to encounter potential danger. A former Clayton County lawyer said he was not surprised to learn that hours after an accidental discharge of a gun at Hartsfield-Jackson, two other travelers were arrested after screening officers detected weapons in carry-on baggage.
One individual had a harbor permit and was not arrested. The other, a 22-year-old, was unlicensed and taken to Clayton County Jail.
“They call it Martin Law,” said Keith Martin, a former Clayton County lawyer.
MAN HUNT CONTINUES FOR CONDEMNED FELON AFTER SHOOTING AT ATLANTA AIRPORT
Police track down criminal convicted of airport shooting
Police are looking for a man whose gun was accidentally discharged at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.
Martin estimates that he pursued more than 3,000 such cases when he was a lawyer. He advocated letting gun owners inform authorities before they get to control about a gun they forgot to leave at home.
“It’s a stressful time. And it’s not something you do as a routine,†Martin said.
He said some travelers were so stressed out about going to an airport that they might not pay attention to large signs or videos warning of the ban.
What else can we do?
“Other than a PSA that screams ‘Do you have a gun?’,†Martin said.
ATLANTA AT THE TOP OF TSA’S LIST OF MOST WEAPONS FOUND AT AIRPORT SECURITY CHECKS … AGAIN.
The only way a gun can travel on a flight is in checked baggage. And travelers should notify the airline with a description of such baggage in advance.
In addition to local prosecutions, the TSA could impose a fine of up to $ 13,910 per offense per person.
Saturday’s incident is under investigation by several agencies.
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