A record 211 guns have been caught at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport security checkpoints so far this year, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

That exceeds the 198 guns caught at Atlanta airport security checkpoints for the full year 2016. Hartsfield-Jackson is the world's busiest airport but doesn't have the most passenger volume through security checkpoints among U.S. airports because most ATL passengers are connecting. Still, it often "leads the nation" in guns caught at security checkpoints, according to TSA figures.

The number of guns caught at airport security checkpoints nationally is also up, reaching 3,733 so far this year. That’s up from 3,391 for the full year 2016.

TSA said it “would like to remind passengers that it is important for them to thoroughly search their bags for any potential dangerous weapons or prohibited items before departing for the airport.”

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Hartsfield-Jackson ranks No. 1 in guns caught by TSA in 2016 Hartsfield-Jackson has already surpassed its 2016 record for guns caught at security checkpoints.

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A screengrab from video taken inside the Georgia Public Service Commission hearing room shows former PSC candidate Patty Durand appearing to pick up a copy of allegedly trade-secret information belonging to Georgia Power. The video later shows Durand put what police say was a different copy of a Georgia Power booklet into her purse and leave the room during a recess in a hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. Durand has been charged with theft of trade secrets, records show. The AJC obtained the video from the Public Service Commission through a Georgia Open Records Act request.

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(Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero | Sources: Hyosub Shin for AJC, Unsplash)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC