The agency has taken to social media to showcase the dangerous, hilarious, and often weird, things confiscated from travelers.
Between the long lines and removing everything from your bag, the TSA isn't exactly the most popular group at the airport. But the agency is making an effort to show the public the ways airport security pays off and saves lives.
Luckily for us, they've decided to share the odd and unusual finds in an entertaining way. The official TSA Instagram account has over 200,000 followers and documents the surprising finds, while the TSA Blog isn't shy about showing us the other side of national security.
Weapons are some of the most frequently confiscated items at airports. 2,212 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags in 2014, 1,835 (83%) of which were loaded. According to the TSA's "Year In Review" for 2014, that's a 22% increase in firearm discoveries over the 1,813 discovered in 2013. Some of these guns belong to passengers with concealed carry permits who forgot to leave their weapon at home before heading to the airport:
A 94-year-old man attempted to enter the checkpoint at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) with a loaded .38 caliber revolver clipped to his belt.
Thousands of knives are discovered in carry-on bags every year, some of which are deliberately concealed. Other choice items include an intert Claymore land mine (yes, a land mine), homemade explosives, novelty weapons, and cane swords.
Scroll through to see the wild items that caught the TSA's eye.
Gun-Shaped Toilet Roll Holder
This gun shaped toilet paper holder was discovered at Newark Liberty International Airport. That guy probably had a pretty crappy day...