This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Transportation Security Administration says the number of Utah airline passengers attempting to go through checkpoints with firearms went down in 2012.
TSA reported on Tuesday that security screeners found 24 firearms during the 2012 calendar year while scanning and searching carry-on luggage. In 2011, 27 such incidents were reported.
TSA officers at Salt Lake City International Airport detected 20 firearms (down from 26 in 2011), while two handguns were found in carry-on luggage at the Provo airport and one each at airports in St. George and Cedar City.
"While one firearm at the checkpoint is one too many, we are pleased that the numbers in Utah are trending in the right direction and we are seeing fewer firearms in passengers' carry-on bags," said Vera Adams, TSA Federal Security Director for Utah.
She cautioned passengers to make time before trying to board aircraft to "double-check the contents of your luggage. It ultimately could save you time and inconvenience at the security checkpoint."
Nationwide, more than 1,500 firearms were detected by TSA officers in 2012, up from about 1,300 in 2011.