Dozens of loaded firearms, inert military grenades, a mobile phone disguised as a stun gun, a tiny lipstick knife and a total of 181 guns were confiscated from carry-on bags of pistol-packing passengers travelling at major U.S. airports in October, according to the Transportation and Security Administration.
Among the prohibited firearms seized between Oct. 3 and Oct. 30, a total of 157 guns were reportedly loaded, nearly a third with rounds chambered, according to the TSA Blog's latest round-up.
"Unfortunately these sorts of occurrences are all too frequent which is why we talk about these finds," the TSA, who tallies the number of confiscated firearms each week, wrote on its official blog.
However, a majority of the cases often involve passengers who forget to remove the firearms from their hand luggage before TSA screening, with most of them claiming to bear no ill intent, UPI reported.
"Sure, it's great to share the things that our officers are finding, but at the same time, each time we find a dangerous item, the line is slowed down and a passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up with a citation or in some cases is even arrested," the TSA wrote, adding that oblivious passengers could face up to $7,500 in fines.
On a weekly basis, TSA agents continue to find replica grenades, inactive artifacts and other disassembled weaponry in passengers' luggage, with some items causing significant delays because bomb experts need to be called in for further investigation of a threatening object.
"Please keep in mind that if an item looks like a real bomb, grenade, mine, etc., it is prohibited," the TSA blog advises.
Last week alone they seized ammunition, a 13-inch cane sword, a box cutter blade concealed in the lining of a carry-on bag in Boston, 16 stun guns and four inert or realistic replica grenades at airports in Atlanta, New Orleans, Des Moines, Iowa, and Springfield, Mo., according to UK MailOnline.
Additionally, out of 41 guns that were confiscated last week, 34 were loaded, with 10 of them having rounds chambered.
In 2013, the TSA confiscated over 1,800 firearms from carry-on bags, reported Fox News.
Meanwhile, passengers are urged be aware of prohibited items and avoid keeping them in their carry-ons, which would eventually either cause delays or lead to an arrest.
"Just because we find a prohibited item on an individual does not mean they had bad intentions, that's for the law enforcement officer to decide," the government agency added.
"In many cases, people simply forgot they had these items."
