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TSA Discovers Over 1,500 Firearms on Airline Passengers in a 3-Month Period
In the first three months of the year, federal officials discovered over 1,500 firearms on travelers passing through airport security checkpoints nationwide. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), roughly 93% of the firearms found were loaded, raising significant safety concerns.
During the first quarter of 2024, the TSA screened more than 206 million passengers, resulting in the discovery of 1,503 firearms. This amounts to an average of 16.5 firearms found daily at airports across the country, a slight decrease from the previous year’s rate of 16.8 firearms per day or 7.9 firearms per one million passengers.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske emphasized the importance of proper handling of firearms while traveling. He stated, “While it is certainly promising that the rate of passengers bringing firearms to the checkpoint has decreased, one firearm at the checkpoint is too many. The demand for air travel is as strong as ever and security is always our number one priority. Every time we discover a firearm at the checkpoint, the security screening process is slowed down for all.”
Pekoske reminded travelers that they can transport firearms, but they must be appropriately packed and checked in their baggage. Firearms should be declared to the airline at the ticket counter and must be packed unloaded in a hard-sided case. He also advised passengers to start with a clean bag to ensure no prohibited items are present.
In the event that a firearm is discovered at a security checkpoint, the TSA does not confiscate the weapon but contacts local law enforcement to safely handle and take possession of it. This could result in the arrest or citation of the passenger, as well as fines of up to $15,000. Additionally, the passenger may lose access to expedited TSA screening for up to five years.
While the number of firearms discovered in the first quarter of 2024 increased compared to the previous year, the TSA has not provided specific data for individual airports. In 2023, a total of 145 guns were found at five Southern California airports, with LAX accounting for the highest number at 81 firearms.
Security officers at these airports found 33 firearms in the first quarter of 2024 and 37 in the previous year, indicating a concerning trend. LAX continues to lead in firearm discoveries, with 16 instances in 2024 and 18 in 2023.
News
Further Support for Gravitational Wave Background in the Universe
The discovery of the gravitational wave background in 2016 marked a significant milestone in our understanding of the Universe. This groundbreaking discovery was further validated by the release of a second data set from the European Pulsar Timing Array, along with the addition of data from the Indian Pulsar Timing Array. These complementary studies have provided more evidence for the existence of the gravitational wave background, shedding light on the cosmic phenomena that shape our universe.
Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime that are generated by violent processes such as merging black holes and colliding neutron stars. Predicted by Einstein in 1916 as part of his General Theory of Relativity, these waves have the ability to travel through space, largely unimpeded by any obstacles in their path. The first detection of gravitational waves in 2015 by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) confirmed their existence, originating from a gravitational merger between two black holes located 1.3 billion light years away.
The recent confirmation of the gravitational wave background by the European and Indian Pulsar Timing Arrays indicates that we are detecting a combined signal from the mergers of supermassive black holes. This random distribution of gravity waves that permeates the Universe offers a new avenue for studying the cosmos, akin to the Cosmic Background Radiation. The collaborative efforts of various observatories and research institutions have enabled us to delve deeper into the mysteries of the Universe.
Utilizing pulsar timing arrays as galaxy-sized detectors, researchers have been able to monitor and analyze the pulse arrival times of galactic pulsars on Earth. By detecting subtle patterns in these signals, they can uncover the presence of the gravitational wave background. The latest study led by J. Antoniadis from the Institute of Astrophysics in Greece delves into the implications of the low-frequency signals observed in the recent data releases from various pulsar timing array systems.
The accumulation of data from multiple sources has provided undeniable evidence for the existence of the gravitational wave background. With ongoing Pulsar Timing Array projects, the signals of the low-frequency gravity waves will become more distinct, offering a wealth of opportunities to explore the Universe in this novel way. The focus now shifts towards interpreting these signals to unlock the secrets of the cosmos.
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