Webb and Guns Brouha continues
I'm guessing that that most commentators just aren't educated on gun laws in this country.
DC's recently overturned gun laws, still being enforced, vs those in Maryland (not so much) and Virginia (quite a bit different) are a good example of the problems that travelers face in crossing jurisdictional boundaries. Often, some rather interesting juggling has to take place to both maintain personal security (DC is NOT a safe place for anyone, except PERHAPS for those on Capitol Hill) and adhere to the law regarding firearms (and knives, even pocketknives!). Add in air travel and with somebody traveling in a group, as I'm sure Senator Webb does, this could create problems of coordination. Apparently this is what happened.
Now, I'm no fan of Senator Webb. I think he IS an elitist, mysognist, hypocritical, opportunistic, two-faced, so-and-so, BUT in this case I really feel for him. He and Phillip Thompson are experiencing the horror that law abiding gun owners fear every day as they travel across jurisdictional boundaries. We often think, will this happen to me? Will I make a mistake, turn a wrong corner, or forget something that will land me in jail? Webb had three vehicles (why is unimportant), bags in all three and new staff. Are we to expect anything other than a mixup? However in this case it wasn't a laptop that went to the wrong place but his firearm.
To put a finer point on this. I understand that Thompson is being charged with having "unregistered ammunition". Do you know how easy it is to have a stray round find its way into a bag? Every shooter has had this happen at least once (and no concientious CHP/CWP holder does not practice). That single round could be the basis of a FELONY conviction and Thompson had a full magazine of 7-15 rounds (I don't know what model of pistol was involved so can't speak to specifics).
By the way, the Federal law provides for travelers to be able to travel without interference through states with severe restrictions so long as they are able to legally possess those firearms at both point of origin and at the destination. Would this apply to the Senator? (I do know that Massachusetts and New York do not honor that law.)
I think that it is interesting that we get all bent out of shape over a gun and don't care that Webb's party leadership have solicted bribes (Murtha), left young women to drown (Kennedy), run prostitution rings out of their homes (Frank), been leaders of the KKK (Byrd), and abandoned our troops and nation's security (darn near the whole party).
Labels: Politics
