CCW Twist - Father forgets he has gun, gets felony rap

[Strk]

Responsible gun owners remember where their guns are

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

You've never had sunglasses on your head and looked around for them? Or had keys in your pocket and started searching for your keys? It happens. People blank out. If he had been carrying this thing on his body every day for two years and this was the first time he had really gone into the school I don't see a benefit to society to give him a felony. Put him on probation and certainly give some sort of punishment. Maybe even make him teach a firearm awareness class or something...community service. But who does it benefit to put him in jail and give him a felony? Maybe the anti-gun agenda people, but that is about it.

 

[TerryMathews]

Responsible gun owners remember where their guns are

It must be a drain to be so perfect.

 

[exdeath]

Look, a lefty abusing a honest self policing mistake to crucify and ruin the life of a political opponent.

Can I be on this jury?

 

[HumblePie]

I've done it with a pocket knife that I tend to carry. I forget I have it and walk up to a security scanner. Realize I have it before going through, and then return it to my car. Did this recently at Sea World. No big deal. Except the long ass walk to my car and back.

It's not a matter he forgot he was wearing it, it was a matter of forgetting where he was going doesn't want him wearing it there. Soon as he saw the security checkpoint he returned it to the vehicle because he obviously knew he had it on him.

As for those saying he should have bolted, he was there to pick up his kid. He wasn't going to strand the kid.

I do believe he should have told anyone asking to search his vehicle to piss off though if they don't have a warrant. No one can prove what he returned to the vehicle was his firearm unless they saw him placing it in the vehicle specifically. Which they didn't.

All he has to say is he realized he forgot his wallet in the car which is why he did his man-pat in that area and ran back to the car to get it. That the gun was always in the car. State it like that and they got nothing on him to prosecute for.

 

[02ranger]

I've done it with a pocket knife that I tend to carry. I forget I have it and walk up to a security scanner. Realize I have it before going through, and then return it to my car. Did this recently at Sea World. No big deal. Except the long ass walk to my car and back.

It's not a matter he forgot he was wearing it, it was a matter of forgetting where he was going doesn't want him wearing it there. Soon as he saw the security checkpoint he returned it to the vehicle because he obviously knew he had it on him.

As for those saying he should have bolted, he was there to pick up his kid. He wasn't going to strand the kid.

I do believe he should have told anyone asking to search his vehicle to piss off though if they don't have a warrant. No one can prove what he returned to the vehicle was his firearm unless they saw him placing it in the vehicle specifically. Which they didn't.

All he has to say is he realized he forgot his wallet in the car which is why he did his man-pat in that area and ran back to the car to get it. That the gun was always in the car. State it like that and they got nothing on him to prosecute for.

This is definitely one of those instances where honesty is NOT the best policy. Did he really think any good would come of telling the police he accidentally brought a gun into the school? I don't believe he should go to jail for it because there's no benefit to that, but he does need to be a little smarter and more careful in the future.

 

[mizzou]

When you CCW, you need to know the rules. You are supposed to know them before you get the license, that's why the make you take the classes.

No guns in schools, no guns at sports arenas, no guns in court, etc. etc.

I've been there before where you just do it so often, you sort of forget what you are doing....and honestly, violating your CCW policy is often a small fine. Typically you are told to leave first before you can even be charged with anything.

Wonder why it was reported stolen though...that's sort of an elephant in this story isn't it? You would think if HE previously reported it stolen, that the story would mention this.

 

[Strk]

It must be a drain to be so perfect.

It sure is

 

[Subyman]

I feel sorry for the guy. We had a family friend that carried a gun in his briefcase. He usually travels on the road and kept it for protection. He accidentally took his briefcase with the gun through the airport on a business trip. They brought him to the back and interrogated him. He didn't have any priors so they gave him probation. This was pre-911, so I'm sure it would be much worse now.

 

[WackyDan]

This is why a person that has CCW license/permit should have a lock box in their vehicle. It only takes a minute to place your pistol in the lock box prior to entering a place where weapons are not allowed.

I'm with Nebor on not buying a person forgetting they're carrying a weapon. Even my Beretta Storm PX4 subcompact weighs close to 2lbs loaded.

Except that in places that have that policy it does extend to your vehicle as a weapon in your vehicle can also be considered concealed. In the case of schools, that very much applies in many states.

Here in NC a new law went into affect in October. You are allowed to have your firearm in your vehicle provided it is secured in a locking glove box or other locking container in your vehicle and that the vehicle itself is locked. So finally... A parent simply picking up their child from school can still exercise their right to carry without breaking the law.

 

[WackyDan]

That the gun was always in the car. State it like that and they got nothing on him to prosecute for.

Depends on the state. Simply having it on schools ground can be a felony.

 

[OutHouse]

Depends on the state. Simply having it on schools ground can be a felony.

Yup

Gun/drug free zones

 

[TerryMathews]

Depends on the state. Simply having it on schools ground can be a felony.

See below

Storing the firearm in his car in a school zone is legal in Wisconsin. http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?97161-Gun-in-a-vehicle-on-school-grounds

He wasn't arrested for having a gun in his car. He was arrested for mistakenly carrying it into the school, noticing, and then securing the weapon.

Again, where is the mens rea? This appears to be the case of punishing someone for attempting to do the right thing.

 

[bshole]

Terry,

CCW comes with great responsibility. If a person is not able to live up to that responsibility, then they must be prepared to experience great consequences.

If the laws are not going to be enforced, they should have never been made in the first place.

He should be prosecuted for the crime, but the fact that he attempted to do the right thing should be used as mitigating factor at sentencing.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

As if our prisons aren't filled enough.

 

[TerryMathews]

Terry,

CCW comes with great responsibility. If a person is not able to live up to that responsibility, then they must be prepared to experience great consequences.

If the laws are not going to be enforced, they should have never been made in the first place.

He should be prosecuted for the crime, but the fact that he attempted to do the right thing should be used as mitigating factor at sentencing.

This is so rich. How did he "not live up to the responsibility"? He complied with the spirit of the law certainly: he removed the weapon from the situation once he realized he had it. A less honest person may have proceeded through their visit with the weapon on their person and not been discovered.

You would think that wanton disregard for the law would be punished more severely than an act clearly lacking mens rea. http://m.washingtontimes.com/blog/guns/2013/jan/11/miller-david-gregory-gets-scott-free/

How harsh a punishment does David Gregory deserve?

 

[TerryMathews]

Let's just call a spade a spade here: those of you who feel he should be punished, want to make an example out of him to discourage others from owning guns.

 

[bshole]

This is so rich. How did he "not live up to the responsibility"? He complied with the spirit of the law certainly: he removed the weapon from the situation once he realized he had it. A less honest person may have proceeded through their visit with the weapon on their person and not been discovered.

You would think that wanton disregard for the law would be punished more severely than an act clearly lacking mens rea. http://m.washingtontimes.com/blog/guns/2013/jan/11/miller-david-gregory-gets-scott-free/

How harsh a punishment does David Gregory deserve?

He couldn't have done that, they had a metal detector. That was why he turned and ran.

Shouldn't the law be enforced? If not, why bother having the law in the first place?

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Not sure they have enough evidence to convict him as no one saw the gun on his person. Though I suspect if he gets convicted it will be for a lesser crime and he will receive a fine, probation, and community service.

 

[TerryMathews]

He couldn't have done that, they had a metal detector. That was why he turned and ran.

Shouldn't the law be enforced? If not, why bother having the law in the first place?

You're absolutely right bshole. We should be strictly enforcing every single law on the books.

Laws on marijuana possession and usage. Laws on sodomy. Laws on adultery. Laws on cohabitation by unmarried people.

Funny how you don't believe in strict enforcement when it comes to your pet projects.

I answered your question, now you answer mine: Should David Gregory be sitting in a jail cell right now? It's a yes or no question.

 

[blankslate]

Also, not responsible enough to know you're carrying a gun into a school, I lose my sympathy.

Responsible gun owners remember where their guns are

Pretty much this.

If you get so relaxed carrying a gun that you forget you have it, you're in danger of getting to complacent imo.

That's not anything that any person should want a CCW permit holder to become.




....

 

[TerryMathews]

Pretty much this.

If you get so relaxed carrying a gun that you forget you have it, you're in danger of getting to complacent imo.

That's not anything that any person should want a CCW permit holder to become.




....

No, a CCW carrying person should be comfortable enough with their tool that they aren't bothered by its presence.

 

[michal1980]

No, a CCW carrying person should be comfortable enough with their tool that they aren't bothered by its presence.

but they shouldn't forget they have it.

 

[AViking]

Here's where I think it would be better to simply ban him from owning a weapon rather than give him prison time.

 

[brycejones]

Here's where I think it would be better to simply ban him from owning a weapon rather than give him prison time.

Make it graduated. Revoke his CCW for a year. Screws up again, revoke it for 5 years. 3rd time no CCW ever again. I don't think he should lose his right to own a gun or go to jail for it.