NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Since the start of 2012, Transportation Security Administration agents have found four handguns in carry on luggage at the Nashville airport.
TSA spokesperson Jon Allen told Nashville's News 2 this is right on trend with more and more guns being found every year.
However, according to officials other banned items are also being confiscated at checkpoints.
Allen showed Nashville's News 2 samplings of some of the items they have found in carry on luggage just in the past five weeks.
The confiscated items included knives, hammers, guns and construction tools.
In total, TSA agents found over 300 pounds of items that were not allowed to go through security in carry on bags.
"It's something that serves as a reminder to passengers," said Allen, "If you're going to attempt to bring a bag on board an aircraft and you bring that bag to security checkpoints, you are responsible for the contents of it."
Many of the items found are not illegal, like knives or even power tools, so Allen said passengers are given the choice of leaving with the object and going back through security or mailing it to themselves.
But some items, such as handguns, are illegal to bring through security, in which case passengers may face criminal charges and a civil penalty from TSA that ranges from $3,000 to over $7,000.
Allen said, "Nationwide we are seeing an increase in the number of firearms that are being brought to check points and that's consistent here in Nashville."
In 2011, Allen told Nashville's News 2 40 guns were discovered at checkpoints at the Nashville airport.
"The 40 we discovered in 2011 is an increase from what we saw in previous years," added Allen, "Nation wide, just over 1,300 fire arms were discovered at TSA checkpoints over the course of 2011."
Allen reminded passengers that items such as guns, knives, hammers and even guns are allowed to be packed in checked baggage.
With a table of objects set up at the Nashville airport on Wednesday, plenty of passengers walked by with curious stares like traveler Judy Craft.
"I think why would someone even consider putting that in their bags to carry on a flight anyway?"
Allen said even if it is an accident, passengers will still be held responsible.
Tate Scott, also flying out of the Nashville airport, said, "Makes me feel confident that these guys are catching it."
Click here for more information on items prohibited by the TSA.
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