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Record number of guns confiscated at Atlanta's airport

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has set a record for the number of firearms discovered at TSA security checkpoints in a single year.

TSA authorities said that’s mostly because some travelers simply forget that they have their firearms in their bags before they leave for the airport.

“How scary things have been, and how sensitive we have to be to issues, and how people can be freaked out by that kind of stuff,” traveler Nicole Vangorp said.

In 2016, a total of 198 firearms were found. So far this year 211 firearms were discovered.

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"You have a record number of people traveling now and you have more people carrying firearms, so I think that that's part of it," Mark Howell, with the TSA, told Channel 2's Audrey Washington

Under certain circumstances, firearms may be carried in checked bags, but they’re prohibited in carry-on bags.

“They consciously knew it was in their possession, so I just think it’s kind of scary,” said traveler Mike Vangrop.

“There are a number of different factors involved,” Howell said. “We urge our passengers to do a quick five-minute check before they come to the airport, to make sure they don’t have those firearms in their bags. It’s really going to help themselves stay out of criminal trouble.”