TSA urges everyone not to bring guns to checkpoint line

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- TSA officials are expecting a very week of travels starting this weekend, and they have an ask for gun owners.

They are urging everyone to look through their bags to make sure they aren't bringing a firearm to the checkpoint line. 

If you bring a gun to the checkpoint, whether it's an accident or not, you could be fined thousands of dollars, and lose your pre-check in privileges for five years.

If you want to travel with a firearm, you must declare it at the ticket counter, fill out a form, and check it with your luggage. 

Guns must be in a hard case, and locked up, so it cannot be opened. 

Firearms cannot be loaded.

"Here in Milwaukee...don't bring them to the checkpoint," said Jessica Mayle, regional spokesperson for TSA. 

More than 5,000 guns have been stopped at checkpoints this year nationally.