CMPD sees alarming spike in guns brought to airport

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police sent a message Wednesday morning to people heading to the airport: Don’t have a gun with you.

Officers said they’ve seen a huge jump in the number of guns that show up at TSA checkpoints. They did point out that they don’t believe anyone has brought guns to Charlotte Douglas International Airport intending to use them.

Police said they have seized 17 guns so far in 2017. It’s the same number seized at this point in 2016, but what has gotten their attention is that officers have seized three guns in the past six days.

The airport is on track to seizing 54 guns at TSA checkpoints, according to CMPD.

Capt. Gregg Collins said almost every time a seizure has occurred, the passenger has told police that they simply forgot the gun was in their bag. But no matter what, the passenger is arrested and the list of people put in handcuffs is surprising.

“These are doctors, lawyers, nurses, former members of the North Carolina Board of Governors for colleges. Like I said though, a gun comes with great responsibility,” Collins said.

Collins said there’s no way to know if any guns got through security screening, but with improved equipment, he’s confident that no weapons have gotten through checkpoints in the past several years.

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