Travelers in Salt Lake City warned about guns in luggage

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A travel security agency said there was an increase in the number of guns detected at security checkpoints at Salt Lake City International Airport, even as air travel declined during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Deseret News reports Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Lorie Dankers says agency officers have discovered 50 firearms in carry-on luggage this year, as of Monday.

The agency is now asking Utah residents to keep their firearms out of their carry-on luggage.

Dankers says agency officers flagged 33 firearms this time last year, and 29 firearms the previous year.

The guns were discovered during routine screening at airport security checkpoints.