SALT LAKE CITY — Security officers at Salt Lake International Airport have noticed a disturbing trend: the number of people caught with firearms in their carry-on luggage so far in 2013 is greater than all of the incidents in 2012.

In most cases, people just forget they have the firearms with them. But for people traveling through Utah's largest airport who fail to properly lock up their firearms, the consequences can range from a misdemeanor charge all the way to a felony and a lost concealed carry permit.

Phil Nelsen is a certified concealed permit instructor, traveling to Omaha with 15 firearms. He has flown to more than 30 states with guns and ammunition, never failing to pass through security appropriately.

"The first thing you want to remember is that everything firearm-related is in your checked luggage," Nelsen said.

"The firearms themselves must be locked and inside a hard container."

They must also be unloaded.

He said ammunition can be inside the gun case or in checked luggage, but either way, it must be contained in a holder designed specifically for ammunition.

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Once the firearm and ammunition are successfully secured, travelers should head to the check-in counter and notify the airline. Failing to do so could mean a $1,000 fine.

An affidavit is then signed, stating all firearms are unloaded. Last comes a final check by officials from the Transportation Security Administration.

It's a pretty simple procedure, but every so often travelers don't follow airport protocol. According to TSA, 24 loaded firearms have been discovered at the Salt Lake City International Airport since January. Twenty were seized in 2012.

Nelsen said the alarming number proves some of us need a reminder to unload and lock up.

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