Gun-controller state senator arrested at airport while trying to board with a....

[Eleanors38]

gun.

http://on.aol.com/video/illinois-senator-arrested-for-bringing-gun-on-plane-517573522

State Senator Donne Trotter of Chicago, a vocal gun-control advocate, was arrested on felony charges of trying to board a plane with a gun and ammunition. The pistol, a Beretta .25 semi-auto, was seized. Trotter claims that the gun was used in connection with a job as a security officer, and that he had forgotten he had the gun in his possessions. Trotter has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Congressional seat held by Jesse Jackson Jr.

At a minimum, the Chicago politician, who holds a license for a firearm, faces charges for violating a law most folks agree with, keeping guns out of carry-on luggage and belongings (checked-in luggage can include a firearm when regulations are followed). But I suspect the Senator may have to answer questions as to why he can have a firearm while others cannot, and why he carries a firearm of poor stopping power as a duty weapon; in short, a belly gun.

[slackmaster]

1. All animals are equal

But some are more equal than others.

[petronius]

2. Unless there was some sort of evidence of deliberate sneakery, I don't think

that should be a felony (or even a crime, really). Guns in my opinion should be treated just like every other forbidden item at the TSA checkpoint - forfeit the item, miss the flight, or put it someplace safe. Assuming, of course, that the item was otherwise legal right up to the edge of teh checkpoint.

At the very most, it should be a simple infraction like a parking ticket and/or the incident recorded, but in that case I wouldn't single out guns - it should apply to the whole gamut of prohibited (potential) weapons...

[Starboard Tack]

3. I agree. nt.

[Marinedem]

4. How typical.

"Guns for me and none for thee".

Every last one of the controllers are the same. Hypocrites, to the last man and woman.

I wonder if any poster that is defending this guy would come to the defense of guys like Lapiere, Nugent, or West in a similar situation. Very telling.

For the record, I believe planes are one of the few places people should not be allowed to carry firearm on their person.

[gejohnston]

6. I agree, the issue with this guy

is that he is a well off lawyer and state senator who has a security guard license (which allows him to carry a pistol) and that pistol is a Barretta .25 APC, which doesn't go well with a Brinks uniform.

[trouble.smith]

5. I wonder what would happen to me

if I got caught trying to smuggle an unregistered handgun onto an airplane in a Chicago airport? I wonder.

[DonP]

7. But ... "he works for a security firm"

At least that's the "reason" he gave when he applied for a rare special CCW in Illinois.

We also know that he has not registered the gun he had with Chicago Police, per the new rules.

He just announced that he was running for Jesse Jr's seat in Congress.

He did some accounting projects for the head of the firm, who wrote a letter to the Illinois State Police saying he might need to carry large amounts of cash so he needed the gun for safety reasons.

He is one of Quinn's major supporters for gun bans of every size and type.

The Sun Times published a copy of a speech he made on the State Senate floor last year, ranting about how bad things could be if "any yahoo, who can write a check and wants to be an amateur cop had a gun with him ..."

Funny how stuff can come back to haunt you.

I'd draw a line through his name for the JJJ Jr. seat. But then again, criminal conviction never stopped any Illinois Politician. Hell, Mel Reynolds, convicted of child molestation (sex with an underage campaign volunteer - all caught on tape) and convicted while in prison for mail fraud is running too.

[ileus]

8. Guns for the 1%...none for the 99%.

Wonder if this will make Mike's blog.

[rDigital]

9. Where's the zero tolerance crew on this one? One Strike! Let's hear it! Jail time! Take away his

kids!

[slackmaster]

10. Welcome back!

[rDigital]

11. Danke! It's good to be back. : ) nt

[Marinedem]

13. LOL, they're nowhere to be found, of course!

Does anyone remember when that tourist turned in the pistol in New-York at that one landmark (Statue of Liberty, maybe?)

I sure wasn't seeing any of this "Aww shucks, he didn't know, so let him walk" talk back then.

Come on antis, own your convictions and stand up for the harsh justice you long for (When it doesn't pertain to one of your own, of course).

[ileus]

14. Welcome back old friend.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Kwanzza!

Merry Winter Solstice!

Happy Hanukkah!


Or Happy whatever doesn't offend you.

[rDigital]

15. Happy Friday! : ). It's good to be back. nt

[Dr. Strange]

12. From the Chicago Tribune:

Trotter has a valid firearm owner's identification card and is licensed by the state to carry the gun while on the security job and while traveling to and from work at the security company, Scaduto said. The weapon, however, was not registered in the city of Chicago as required by municipal ordinance, Scaduto said.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-state-senator-charged-with-trying-to-board-plane-with-weapon-20121205,0,6048413.story

Now this is a (no longer) hidden criminal.

[Straw Man]

16. Security.

He's got a security guard license and he's carrying a Beretta .25? Isn't that kind of like a cop walking a beat in flip-flops?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

17. #10 K&R = Off to the Greatest Page with You !!

Last edited Sat Dec 8, 2012, 12:10 AM - Edit history (1)

which is better: the irony or the hypocrisy? decisions. decisions.

[rDigital]

18. +1 to the greatest page. nt

[Glaug-Eldare]

19. Reminds of Ed Hale at BWI.

Ed Hale, the (white) CEO of First Mariner Bancorp in Baltimore attempted to smuggle a loaded gun onto an airliner (in his carry-on luggage), and received one year of unsupervised probation before judgment (sentencing without conviction, designed to extend lenience for low-risk offenders). He also possessed (possesses?) one of those rare personal protection handgun permits, simply because he is a wealthy and influential person. He is free as we type because he is rich and white.

On the other hand, Charles F. Williams, a (black) citizen who is not a bank executive, was arrested for possession of a handgun (in a backpack, not in his pants) while attempting to take public transportation from his girlfriend's house to his own. He could not have possibly received a handgun permit, because he hadn't been attacked multiple times, and didn't have the money to buy a legislator's help. He was convicted in Circuit Court and sentenced to three years in prison, plus three years of supervised probation on release. He is imprisoned as we type because he is neither rich nor white.