The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has revealed 6,542 guns at the point of entry into several of the country’s airports in 2022 were intercepted.

Since 2010, figures for guns confiscated at airport checkpoints have sharply increased, which saw 5,530 guns seized in 2021. 

Last year, an alarming 1,000 increase to 6,542 within 12 months was recorded, making seizures an average of 18 guns per day.

The only time the numbers were lower since the upward trend began more than a decade ago was during the peak phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which saw millions of people around the world grounded at home in isolation.

Atlanta airport, which sees about 85,000 people going through checkpoints daily, is one of the world’s busiest airports to top the chart for most guns confiscated, with 448 in 2022. 

According to VOA, the top 10 list for gun interceptions in 2022 includes Dallas, Austin and Houston in Texas; three airports in Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Atlanta; Phoenix; and Denver.

“What we see in our checkpoints really reflects what we’re seeing in society, and in society, there are more people carrying firearms nowadays,” said TSA administrator David Pekoske.