Michigan residents with handgun carry permits, file the following case for sometime in the future, in case you ever experience a forgetful moment just like this jurist did, so that you might get the same consideration she has received.
Sylvia James, the chief judge of the 22nd District Court, attempted to pass through security at the Detroit airport with a loaded handgun in her purse, and was arrested.
Now, if you or I had done the same thing, would "intent" to pass a firearm through airport security have been considered in whether or not to file charges? I highly doubt it, but it seems to have made all the difference to Washtenaw County prosecutors, who handled the case to avoid a conflict of interest:
"'There is insufficient proof to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. James knowingly possessed the handgun,'" Konrad Siller, first assistant prosecutor in Washtenaw County, wrote in his Nov. 13 memo to the Wayne County Airport Police. He declined Monday to discuss the issue further."
Of course, the gun was in her purse, and she admitted to airport police that "she simply forgot about the gun". Oh well, no harm, no foul, I guess.
As long as other Michiganders with the same sort of (non)criminal history get the same mulligan, that is.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
1 comment:
Finally, some common sense. All similar cases should be handled the same way.
It should be very obvious that charges for accidentally carrying a gun would not stop someone who wants to hijack the plane. The penalty for hijacking a plane is much harsher than 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine!
Clearly, hijackers either think they won't get caught or are willing to take the consequence for a higher cause.
The only way to possibly prevent hijackings is excellent security to stop guns and other weapons from entering the plane. Criminalizing people who likely forgot about the weapons wastes taxpayer money, damages the life of an innocent person, and does not help plane safety.
Post a Comment