FORBES – March 3, 2021 – Sunscreen, check. Floppy hat and flip flops, check. Glock revolver, double check. This year, the Transportation Security Adminstration (TSA) has added something new to its list of tips designed to help spring break travelers get through airport security quickly and without drama. In previous years, this advice has typically included general packing hacks on how to pack liquids, how to remove laptops and electronic devices for inspection and what not to pack in checked luggage. “Some travelers pack the craziest items,” chirped the 2018 blog post. Two years ago, the TSA reminded travelers to pack any item that could possibly be used as a weapon in their checked luggage. “Anything with a blade, including all knives, cigar cutters and corkscrews with blades,” the agency’s 2019 post advised. What a difference a pandemic year makes. For 2021, the TSA’s spring break advice features two new tips that reflect these uncertain times in America. The first is a Covid-19 reminder to wear a face mask in the airport. The second is a lesson on how to legally pack a firearm for a flight.

“No guns at checkpoints,” reads tip number 4. “Airline passengers can fly with firearms only in checked baggage. All firearms must be properly packed and declared at check-in. Contact your airline for additional guidance.”

Guns sales in the U.S. surged last year, driven by a variety of factors that include fears about the Covid-19 pandemic, political unrest, and the 2020 election. Nearly 23 million firearms were sold in the United States in 2020, estimates the consultancy Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting (SAAF). It was the busiest year on record for the gun industry, with sales up 60% over 2019.  [full article]