only 3000 loaded guns found in luggage at american airports this year so far.

That wasn't very smart of them. TSA says you can check-in a gun but it has to be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container. I mean, who wants to have their gun confiscated like that? Guns aren't cheap. It also says cases that are easily opened aren't permitted. It has to be a secure case. So either these people didn't read the rules or they were unwise in thinking they'd get by with their gun loaded and packed in their bag without it.