MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Transportation Security Administration officers intercepted 16 firearms at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) security checkpoints in 2024, down from 19 in 2023, according to a Wednesday, Jan. 15 press release.

Across Wisconsin airports, the TSA detected 29 firearms last year, a decrease from 36 the previous year.

Nationwide, TSA officers intercepted 6,678 firearms at checkpoints, averaging 18 firearms per day, with around 94% of the firearms being loaded.

The rate at MKE was below the national average, with 4.5 firearms detected per million passengers compared to the national rate of 7.4.

According to the press release, when a firearm is detected, local law enforcement is contacted. They then remove the passenger and firearm. The TSA also imposes fines of up to $15,000 and revokes TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years.

Passengers can legally travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, locked in a hard case and declared at check-in. Detailed instructions for properly traveling with a firearm can be found by clicking here.