A friend of mine made a BIG mistake (gun in airport!)

[cbhausen]

Chris Paulsen, who I have known since I was a kid (we used to hang out together at the races) got busted at Indianapolis Int'l. Airport for sending a handgun through the TSA scanner before boarding a flight:

Indy airport security finds loaded gun in motorsports exec's bag | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

This was obviously an honest mistake and I feel badly for him and I hope this works out okay in the end. This guy is of the highest character; I can't believe he forgot the gun was in his bag.

 

[miguel]

Ouch, this sounds like the Barry Switzer incident a few years ago: Switzer Arrested on Gun Charge - New York Times

 

[cbhausen]

Ouch, this sounds like the Barry Switzer incident a few years ago: Switzer Arrested on Gun Charge - New York Times

Switzer didn't have a "permit..." I hope Chris did. Anyone know what the consequences usually are for this?

 

[tbhausen]

Nothing mentioned in the charges about being unlicensed.

 

[Scutter01]

Switzer didn't have a "permit..." I hope Chris did. Anyone know what the consequences usually are for this?

Genital groping and nude photos taken. Oh wait, that's what you get when you haven't done anything besides buy a plane ticket. HEY-OOOOH!

 

[jason867]

That sucks.

Reckon his status will help him?

 

[TiminMishawaka]

I sold my keltec pf9 because I go into Chicago a lot and may or may have not found on one or more hypothetical occasions how easy it is to forget that gun is in your pocket. I switched to heaver guns so I'm no confused as to whether or not I'm carrying. I feel very bad for him. That gun slips into a corner of a pocket or the corner of a suitcase and you just completely forget where it is.

I have a friend of a friend who's dad put a .38 pistol in his backpack on a hunting trip in Wisconsin (innocent intentions). The guy didn't know about it and went into the security line. I think he got a year or two of probation.

 

[Hornett]

And here is the real problem with airport security, and schools, and a host of other social issues.
Zero tolerance.
There is no room for an honest mistake.
Good people get severely punished for small issues.

Why is that different than a knife?
If you accidentally take a knife into the security line, you get an option, you can take it back to the car, mail it home, or they confiscate it.
Ask me how I know about this...

Why is a gun not treated the same way?
Give the guy the option to put it in his car.
For crying out loud, confiscate it if they really feel the need.
But all the police, arrested, charges, hullabaloo is ridiculous.
2 years probation. BAH!!!

 

[dom1104]

Some TSA guy is going to get a promotion if he handles this the right way.

And a pay boost to 12.95 an hour.

 

[rmabrey]

IM sorry but when I hear these stories I dont feel bad for the person. If you "forgot" where your gun is then you are irresponsible to begin with.

 

[IndianaResident]

Why is that different than a knife?
If you accidentally take a knife into the security line, you get an option, you can take it back to the car, mail it home, or they confiscate it.
Ask me how I know about this...

As far as knives and the like go, you don't have the option of returning it to the car if you've taken it through the scanner.

That's an attempt to bring it on board, which means they confiscate it and inform police, though that doesn't inherently mean charges brought or any such thing.


This has been my experience, anyhow. Asp, Chicago airport, about 2 years ago.

 

[cbhausen]

That sucks.

Reckon his status will help him?

He is a prominent businessman and therefore has connections. This shouldn't matter, though. This zero-tolerance crap is just that, crap. There should be tolerance for mistakes like this for everyone, not just for those who hang out with the Mayor on occasion. I wish Chris well and feel sorry for him and Debbie. And to those pious individuals who might lecture all of us with the "...should have known better..." verse, we know... I only hope when one of them makes an honest mistake someone is compassionate to them.

F*** Al-Qaeda for the way they have changed life in America, the greatest force for good the world has ever known.

 

[nate1865]

I feel bad for him. I always have a slight moment of panic as I think through my mind whether or not any little .22 round might have fallen into my bag.

The good guys need to start pushing all the bad guys out so we can reclaim our freedom in movement.

 

[TiminMishawaka]

IM sorry but when I hear these stories I dont feel bad for the person. If you "forgot" where your gun is then you are irresponsible to begin with.

Your sanctimony has been duly noted and ignored.

 

[rmabrey]

Your sanctimony has been duly noted and ignored.

Dont care though

If we say these good guys deserve a break when they make stupid mistakes like this then the next time A thread about a cop giving someone a hard time about OC cause he doesnt know the law pops up, everyone should say "I understand, they have a lot of laws to remember"



FTR im not wishing jail time for this man. I do hope he gets off with a slap on the wrist. If he does jail time im not going to feel sorry for him though.

 

[sj kahr k40]

I don't feel sorry for him either, I've made honest mistakes in the past and had to pay the consequences, that being said if he has a LTCH I think loss of the gun and having to buy another ticket is punishment enough

 

[USMC_0311]

He forgot about his gun!!

I don't care how small or what a stand up guy, HE FORGOT ABOUT HIS GUN.

Does that sound like a RESPONSIBLE gun owner?

 

[gunsisgood]

IM sorry but when I hear these stories I dont feel bad for the person. If you "forgot" where your gun is then you are irresponsible to begin with.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[rmabrey]

Im glad im not the only one. I thought I was gonna be one of those guys today

 

[mrjarrell]

He forgot about his gun!!

I don't care how small or what a stand up guy, HE FORGOT ABOUT HIS GUN.

Does that sound like a RESPONSIBLE gun owner?

Sounds like any number of cops and air marshals, that we've read about. Nothing happened to them, except maybe catching hell from their buddies.