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Should this traveler be charged?

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Jan 23, 2008 6:50 PM GMT

A passenger who went through an airport security checkpoint -- before remembering that he had a loaded gun -- is facing charges after going back to report his error, authorities said.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/23/airport.gun/index.html

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Jan 23, 2008 8:58 PM GMT

I do think he should be charged if he is doing something against the law. Just because he turned himself in doesn't mean that charges should be pressed against him. Either way it is a misdemeanor charge which isn't a huge deal.

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Jan 23, 2008 9:09 PM GMT

Outrageous. If someone is charged even when turning himself in, where is the incentive for anyone to ever turn himself in for anything? There must be some distinction made. Clearly he had no illicit intent OR HE WOULD NOT HAVE TURNED HIMSELF IN.

Idiots, these people.

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Jan 23, 2008 9:27 PM GMT

Maybe the people doing the security checks should be prosecuted for aiding and abetting. Makes you feel really safe, knowing that this sort of thing happens, and happens with more frequency than we are told about. There are always stories in the nes about security tests at airports wherein things that aren't supposed to be allowed on planes are able to get past the security. Thanks, W, for making America safe. (Sarcasm)

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Jan 23, 2008 10:07 PM GMT

I once got through a security checkpoint in an airport eventhough I had an unopened package of Bic razors in my carry-on. I realized it when I got to the other airport for my layover flight. Was gonna go tell them, but why should they believe me, was gonna chuck the razors, but hey, I paid for em. So, I just got on the next flight and off to Palm Springs I went.

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Jan 23, 2008 10:59 PM GMT

Absolutely not. It's pure stupidity to charge him.

What is the point of most laws in this aspect? Provide for safety.

a) did at any time put others in danger?
b) did he correct himself after realizing he had a loaded weapon still?
c) has he done anything morally or ethically reprehensible?
d) would charging him have any positive benefit?

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Jan 23, 2008 11:28 PM GMT

For turning himself in no.

But if he got caught with the gun claiming to just have "forgotten" about it then yes, he would/should still be charged.

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Jan 23, 2008 11:36 PM GMT

Being charged and convicted are two different things. Yes, I think he has to be charged as part of the due process of the law. However, I think a judge can and should dismiss those charges.

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Jan 24, 2008 2:12 AM GMT

So... why did he have a gun in the first place when he knew he was going to an airport?

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Jan 24, 2008 2:58 AM GMT

NativeDude saidSo... why did he have a gun in the first place when he knew he was going to an airport?

What difference does it make?

Many of us carry guns routinely, after a while you don't even think about them being there. Especially if you are busy thinking about a hundred different things at once, it is understandable to sometimes overlook them: 'no theres nothing unusual' because you are so used to the firearm being 'usual'.

No - he tried caught himself, tried to correct the mistake, to comply to the best of his ability - he should not be charged.

Probably one more instance of some paper pushing office jockey digging up something that should have been left alone - following the letter of the law rather than doing what is right.

Most people check their firearms - Getting a permit to carry on a US commercial passenger carrier is just about the toughest permit you can apply for - one poor SOB forgets to check his, trys to correct the mistake, and ends up paying unfairly for it.

It highlights the depths to which we have sunken in the US with trying to criminalize EVERYTHING.

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Jan 24, 2008 3:25 AM GMT

More concerning is how he got through the security with a loaded gun?
No, he shouldn't be charged, but the enforcement of security measures should be examined.

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Jan 24, 2008 3:48 AM GMT

Should not be charged. You charge people for crimes. Yes people can commit crimes not knowing it, but for those you get a ticket. So give him a ticket, but don't charge him. Come on. Crazy people run things and they should all be fired.

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Jan 24, 2008 4:17 AM GMT

Should not be charged as he apparently had no intent to commit a crime. Reporters and other investigator types are alwas trying to get something past security as a test of it.

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Jan 24, 2008 4:41 AM GMT

In this day and age after 9/11 what cave would you have to be living in for the past seven years that you wouldn't know that you can't carry a loaded gun into an airport? The guy may deserve toget off in the long run but this was just brazenly stupid!!!

A few years ago my boss was going on a quail hunting trip to North Dakota. He called Northwest Airline (his carrier) and asked their rules for carrying a hunting rifle. They told him that it was acceptable for storage if it was disassembled, in a soft case carried within his luggage. The day of the trip the airline rep told him that it had to be in a hard case and that the gun could not fly. His wife had dropped him off, so he approached a policeman and asked him to keep the disassembled rifle until his wife could return. All was calm and all was good.

Next day I get a call from the reporter (my job is public relations) telling me that he got a call that it was in the airport police report that my boss was trying to take a gun on a plane. I knew he was going on a trip but I didn't know anything about what happened. I had to call his wife, then reach him in the field in North Dakota, talk to the airport police and then the reporter to defuse what could have been a very damaging story in spite of the fact no one did anything inappropriate, unlawful or wrong. I got ALL of these people on the phone with the reporter, as well as the airport manager. The reporter, a friend, still went with the story but it wasn't the front page indictment his editors were hoping for. It came out and no harm no foul. But if I hadn't taken those measures the guys would have lost his retirement, his position, everything, and he did nothing wrong.

So again I ask, how stupid is the guy in this originally posted story? Sheesh!

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GQjock

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Jan 24, 2008 11:42 AM GMT

Make'im eat an extra inflight dinner....

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Jan 24, 2008 12:13 PM GMT

Yes he should be investigated - no one is stupid to leave his home with a loaded gun before he boards a flight. Who knows the real reason why he turned himself in - maybe he got scared of being caught and decided to turn in his gun claiming it to be a "mistake". He had no business carrying the gun in the first place... or changed his mind at the last minute before commiting a serious crime?

Frankly something should be done about the Gun laws in USA.. there are too many innocent people who get killed in mall, school and other shootings in the US. In UK even most policemen don't carry a gun.. its just not neccessary... why not just carry a Tazer if anyone is too concerned about safety??

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Jan 24, 2008 12:18 PM GMT

[quote][cite]ITJock said[/cite][quote][cite]What difference does it make?

Many of us carry guns routinely, after a while you don't even think about them being there.

---- MANY OF YOU CARRY GUNS ROUTINELY??? WHY ??? JEEZ.. WHAT A SCARY COUNTRY..seriously it is a scary thought to think that you are around civilian people all the time many of who carry a firearm and could start shooting or their gun could go off by mistake. Are Americans really so proud of their easy gun laws?? Sorry but this is something that the rest of the world would never approve of.. or are you telling me America is such a dangerous country that everyone should carry a gun for personal safety??? This is shocking to hear someone make such a ridiculous comment saying "many of us carry guns routinely"...

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Jan 24, 2008 2:48 PM GMT

Travelstud said[quote]
---- MANY OF YOU CARRY GUNS ROUTINELY??? WHY ??? JEEZ.. WHAT A SCARY COUNTRY..seriously it is a scary thought to think that you are around civilian people all the time many of who carry a firearm and could start shooting or their gun could go off by mistake. Are Americans really so proud of their easy gun laws?? Sorry but this is something that the rest of the world would never approve of.. or are you telling me America is such a dangerous country that everyone should carry a gun for personal safety??? This is shocking to hear someone make such a ridiculous comment saying "many of us carry guns routinely"...

Many people in Security, Law Enforcement, and Finance/Investment routinely carry firearms, especially when frequent international travel is required to less secure areas.

My company is involved with systems engineering, specifically for security systems, as well as providing manned security centers, and occasionally providing industrial and corporate personnel security.

Actually, for the last couple of years I have been licensed to carry in the UK where I now live most of the year. Yes, it is very difficult to get permits. I don’t always carry in the US or the UK, but when I don’t carry, firearms are never very far away. (You never need one until you REALLY NEED one.)

Frankly, I am more worried about carrying in some of the lawless countries I go to throughout Africa, Asia, C &S America. Yes, there are many places that ARE that dangerous.

And you are of course right, I see the result of many places where the government does not allow people to own firearms: Russia, China, Iran, N Korea; GEEEEEEEEE – in fact just about everywhere there is a totalitarian regime, the first thing they do is confiscate firearms (even before they kill all the lawyers!)

Be glad you are spoiled and pampered enough living a middle/upper class lifestyle in a western first world country not to have to go to those places.

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Jan 24, 2008 3:11 PM GMT

I lvie in D.C. I am not surprised by this happening at our airport.

1. It is hard to find any good employee around this city. The work ethic is incredibly poor. Half of the city are wealthy and highly educated and the otehr half is not highly educated and blames everyone else for keeping them down.

2. As it has already been pointed out, there are a lot of FBI, CIA, etc... in this city. I don;t know all the facts because it really isn't big news here, but it is quite possible he always ahs his gun with him and was trying to do the right thing because he remembered it.

I do not think he should be charged. However, I do thik the TSA needs to get their crap together.

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Jan 24, 2008 3:13 PM GMT

I've never heard this before - I've been all over the world 20 times and traveled to many lesser prvilaged countries which you refer to as "third world". FYI - 3rd world now only applies to very few countries in Africa mostly the rest of the world is Developed or Booming or Developing at best.

And in every country / every city - there are safe & unsafe areas... many parts of New York are very unsafe at night... so are many other cities in the US like - Detroit, Camden, Newark.. I can name many more. Doesn't mean that the US is a third world?? Most countries in Asia have very little gun crime anyways.. and mostly petty crimes like robbery and lower level thefts. Organized crime is probably still highest in the western world.

Carrying guns is simply wrong - yes if you are in Law enforcement then its ok but sorry in europe Lawyers and IT professionals don't go around carrying weapons.. jeez.. this only happens in America and goddamn admit it that its bloody wrong.

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Jan 24, 2008 3:18 PM GMT

You cannot even bring a toothpaste inside your hand luggage nowadays. Of course , you should never carry gun. What do you want to do with it.? Hijack the plane and ramp it on some building?

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Jan 24, 2008 3:32 PM GMT

I wouldn`t say that he should be convicted, but at least he should be charged and sent before the Judge. Wich probably will dismiss the case anyway. The law is the law and if he couldn`t remember that he had a weapon with him, then he will think twice next time.

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Jan 24, 2008 3:33 PM GMT

Forgetting you've got a firearm is a bit like forgetting you've got a buttplug up your ass.

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Jan 24, 2008 4:05 PM GMT

McGay saidForgetting you've got a firearm is a bit like forgetting you've got a buttplug up your ass.

I accidently left some Drugs in my Backpack when I left Austria. I got an Heartattack when I realized that on the plain. I just flushed it down the toilet and everything was good though.

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Jan 24, 2008 4:25 PM GMT

Travelstud said
Carrying guns is simply wrong - yes if you are in Law enforcement then its ok but sorry in europe Lawyers and IT professionals don't go around carrying weapons.. jeez.. this only happens in America and goddamn admit it that its bloody wrong.

Has removing guns decreased crime any?

Do some searching and you'll find crime rates are still higher in the UK and Europe than in more gun friendly US.

http://www.geoffmetcalf.com/guncontrol_20010302.html

Mild article but you can find plenty of data on the net spread around. Your still more likely to be a victim of a violent crime in the UK than the US.

Gun's are a matter of self control and responsibility. Responsible citizens who carry guns are doing so for their protection. There will always be those who choose to use weapons for crime but take away guns and they'll just grab a knife or buy a gun illegally. Then the rest of the law abiding citizens are in more danger.

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Should this traveler be charged?