Five firearms were discovered by U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at security checkpoints in Ohio's John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in April, the TSA reported May 2. 

Most recently, a loaded firearm was seized on April 24, according to the news release. To date, TSA officers have discovered 22 firearms at CMH checkpoints in 2023; in 2022, TSA officers found a total of 40 firearms at the airport, the release reports.

“Passengers must remember they’re responsible for the contents of bags, and our advice is they thoroughly inspect all personal belongings to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items before coming to the airport,” Don Barker, federal security director for Ohio TSA, said in the release. “This simple act could save you lots of time and money, along with avoiding possible arrest with local law enforcement.”

TSA announced in December that in response to a record number of firearms being confiscated at airport security checkpoints in 2022, the penalty for bringing weapons to the airport has increased to as high as $14,950. The TSA determines the penalty amount based on the circumstances around each individual violation, the announcement states, and any passengers caught possessing firearms will have their TSA PreCheck eligibility revoked for at least five years.

Passengers are allowed to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case, and formally declared at the airline check-in counter, the TSA reports. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality, so travelers should stay updated on firearm laws in the jurisdictions that they're flying to and from.

More information on how to properly travel with a firearm can be found on the TSA's official website. Passengers should also contact their airline to learn more about their requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.