• Who We Are
• For Travelers
• What We Do
• Join Us
• Our Approach
• Media Room
• Research Center

---

• Media Room
• DHS Leadership Journal Posts
• News & Happenings
• Letters to the Editor
• Press Releases
• RSS and News Feeds
• Speakers Bureau
• Terminal Madness
• Testimony & Speeches
• Workforce Stories

Typical Month Results in Several Weapon Discoveries in Atlanta

News & Happenings

November 19, 2007

Every month, transportation security officers (TSOs) at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport screen 1.2 million passengers. And every month, like many TSA-screened airports across the country, they find several prohibited firearms and self-defense items at the checkpoint. Just during October, Atlanta TSOs discovered seven guns in carry-on bags at the checkpoint – five of them loaded.

TSOs who identified guns were Reginald Burns, Dwight Carson, Ronald Meyers, Robert Moldonado, Archie Perdue, Monica Ramsey and Anthony Williams, and Lead TSO Vernon Peck. Prohibited self-defense items included brass knuckles and kubatons (self-defense keychains).

"Every day our dedicated transportation security officers carry out the important job of protecting the traveling public," said Willie Williams, Atlanta federal security director. "The discovery of these weapons illustrates the focus shown by our officers each and every day."

Also in October, Atlanta TSOs found seven undeclared guns in passengers' checked baggage.