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Hand grenades — or at least inert grenades or replicas that look like the real thing — are routinely seized at security checkpoints at Salt Lake City International Airport.

"We get several a month," Ron Malin, Utah's federal security director with the Transportation Security Administration, told the Airport Advisory Board on Wednesday.

"A lot of people use them as souvenirs or paperweights," he explained as a possible reason why some try to travel with them.

Malin displayed several inert or fake hand grenades that TSA confiscated in Salt Lake City, including one decorated to look like a giant fly. Board members asked whether they were confiscated long ago and simply reused from time to time as rare examples.

Malin said all but one were recently confiscated. The grenades and fake grenades "continually show up," he said, not only at security checkpoints, but also in checked luggage that is X-rayed.

"They look like the real deal, so we treat them as the real deal," he said, adding that explosives experts are summoned every time they are found, and it slows down airport operations.

Malin's collection of recently seized items included handguns, toy guns (that look like the real thing), ammunition, knives (many designed to look like something else, including credit cards), clubs, hammers, batons and a variety of tools.

"I wish I could say it is atypical, but it is not," Malin said, adding that similar items likely will be seized at the airport in the coming week.

Malin said the airport has seized 24 handguns at security checkpoints this year, and all but one were loaded.

"The vast majority [of violators] are concealed-weapon-permit holders," he said, adding that TSA officials have been working with concealed-carry instructors to remind students what is and is not allowed for guns with air travel. Guns may be declared and packed into checked luggage, but they are prohibited in carry-on bags.

"The only excuse that I have ever heard is: 'I forgot,' " Malin said.

Board members asked whether more or different kinds of warning signs might help people remember and recheck their bags to remove prohibited items.

Malin said TSA has plenty of signs posted, but people still bring prohibited items.

"The last time I was near the checkpoint when a passenger brought a gun, I happened to ask him, 'I'm just curious. Did you see our sign?' The passenger said, 'Absolutely I saw your sign, but I didn't think I had a gun in my bag, so I didn't pay any attention to the sign.' "

Malin said bringing a firearm to a checkpoint may lead to criminal arrest and civil fines of up to $11,000.

"Typically, we end up settling for $3,500 to $4,000," Malin said. "It's a very costly mistake."