This Map Shows All 22,000 Weapons Confiscated at US Airports in 2015

Sure , it ’s sluttish to get contain up at airport security for accidentally packing too much liquid , but items likeguns , pepper nebuliser , and soldierlike arts weaponsare , well , considerably less apprehensible . And yet , the TSA attach more than 22,000 of them and other weapons at airport surety checkpoints in the US last twelvemonth . Whoa .

TSA data prevail via the Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) shows that officials seized a sum of 22,044 “ dangerous item " – everything from piece to blade – during airport surety screenings in 2015 , according toa late analysisby Max Galka ofMetrocosm . And thanks to the below interactive map Galka built with the data point , you could see on the nose how many dangerous object were confiscate at each US airdrome :

As you’re able to see on the map , some airports confiscated direction more weapons that you ’d think they would , look at their locations and flight book . For example , Alaska ’s Anchorage International Aiport , the 55th busiest in the US , confiscated 434 dangerous particular while Los Angeles International Airport , one of the nation ’s busiest , confiscate only 199 dangerous item .

Metrocosm

" My outlook before go through the information was that the number of items confiscated in each airport would be just about relative to that airport ’s rider dealings , " Galka tell via email . " That turned out to not be the case at all . "

Additional single-valued function show how some unsafe items were particularly prevalent at sure airport :

" Looking at specific items , there were a few cases where the numbers came out passing disproportional , " Galka say . " For example , nearly half the pepper nebulizer confiscated by the TSA nationwide last year came from one airport , Phoenix Sky Harbor . Hard to imagine what could maybe explain that . "

OK , Phoenix , what the hell is going on with all that capsicum spray ?

For more interesting finding , checkout the full analysison Metrocosm . And call back , folks , your carry - on bag is no place forgiant gist slicer .