Moran of the week award goes to: Man with 21 guns at airport

"LOS ANGELES - The man arrested at Los Angeles International Airport with a trunk full of guns and nearly 1,000 rounds of ammunition said Saturday that he is a law-abiding weapons enthusiast who had no idea he might be breaking the law.

A day after he was arrested for suspicion of felony transportation of an assault rifle, Phillip Dominguez said he's confident he'll be exonerated.

"I'm a law-abiding, taxpaying gun enthusiast. I have no felonies — up until now," Dominguez said.

Airport police saw it a little differently.

"In the post-Sept. 11 (2001) environment, it is well-known by weapon owners that airports and weapons simply do not mix," said Los Angeles Airport Police Chief George Centeno.

"He just made a very bad decision, and should not have been carrying those weapons," airport police Sgt. Jim Holcomb said on Friday. A call to an airport police spokesman seeking further comment Saturday was not immediately returned..."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28589280/

he couldn't fit them in the little Ziploc bag, huh?

But the people who think that carrying around a small armory in their trunk is NORMAL and some kind of strange constitutional duty.

It IS perfectly normal to carry a bunch of different kinds of firearms and ammunition in your car.

Come on. Surely you can see the lunacy here. No one is saying he can't OWN 21 guns. That's not the issue.

Teleportation?

Come on. Surely you can see the lunacy here.

Yes, indeed I do see the lunacy here. The whole fucking world has gone insane. Nobody gives a shit about the fucking rules any more.

:eyes:

:rofl:

Again, this is not about OWNING that many guns.

And yes, this guy is a moran. You can't carry a 3.5 ounce tube of toothpaste to an airport and this clown thought nothing of 21 guns?

You can't carry a 3.5 ounce tube of toothpaste to an airport and this clown thought nothing of 21 guns?

You can carry a full pallet of toothpaste on a flatbed truck into an airport parking lot without getting arrested. Transporting any number of firearms in the manner prescribed by law should not make you subject to arrest.

but I am glad they picked up this guy. :)

Do you doubt this guy's story that he was picking up a friend and going shooting? If so, on what basis?

He was transporting his legally-owned weapons.

He was not trying to enter the terminal or go through pre-boarding security with them.

He was stopped and arrested for carrying his legally-owned weapons on roads within the airport, but there are no posted warnings that the entire LAX facility is a no weapons zone.

I think that while the airport cops would have been right to investigate further, he should not have been arrested.

Sorry, Proud.

I just think he's nuts.

I'd be one of 'em and I think you would too.

Picking this guy up did nothing to improve public safety.

on this one we agree: if he was transporting them in a lawful manner he shouldn't have been arrested. Questioned, yes. Arrested? Only in the crazy Keystone Cops world of the TSA mindset.

this guy should have figured he couldn't bring 21 guns to an airport.

This country is in deep trouble if we accept the notion that law enforcement can dictate behavior without regard to law. The problem with TSA and the rest of the Vaterland security system is that the public face of it is more about castigating those who don't conform than about addressing security threats.

I think he is definitely guilty of stupidity.

:eyes:

WOW.

:rofl:

??

it's illegal to carry a tube of toothpaste to the airport. I'm willing to let the audience decide which of us is stupid.

Which part of that are you ignoring?

The same place that won't allow toothpaste through security is supposed to allow 21 guns in a car on the premises? Sure. Only in moran world.

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

You are limited to some ridiculously small amount on the plane or in the secured area of the airport.

You can have as many guns as you want in your car.

You are limited to zero guns on the plane or in the secured area of the airport

it only makes sense that a large quantity in your car would not result in your arrest.

Nor is having them in the trunk of your car when you are in an airport parking lot.

By police who are out of control.

Welcome to the world. I'm done with you.

Have a pleasant afternoon! :hi:

Last time I was there a TSA guy told me where I could park. He was at the entrance. Was he overstepping his job description?

The incident happened at Los Angeles International Airport, in California.

See you know as much about the geography where I live as I know about LA :)

I know too much about the area.

and never has been in Kansas.

But it's not important. The incident happened at LAX, with which I am very familiar.

TSA does not handle security in the parking lot, and the article linked to in the OP even says he was arreated by LA airport police.

BTW, I have flown into and out of MCI with a firearm, twice.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

And since you are calling me a liar and name calling is forbidden here, I find it necessary to point out you are breaking the rules. Maybe you should just read for awhile before you post more.

You is a personal attack and one is describing what someone thinks your behavior is.

Sort of like my saying you are a stupid asshole would be against the rules, but saying you seem to enjoy being overly argumentative isn't. See?

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Though I understand the frustration, I'd recommend rewording or editing it, or deleting it before it gets deleted. If you want it to say.

The man was arrested by the LA airport police, who have jurisdiction over the parking lot and the unsecured parts of the terminal buildings. I believe they are a branch of the LA harbor patrol.

The TSA is responsible for what happens inside of the secured area of the airport. The parking lot is not secured.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I just love how those at DU who hate guns will give away rights just because the items in question happen to be guns. As I pointed out in posts in LBN if this guy had been carrying a big amount of cash it too could've been confiscated just on the word of the cops. "Anyone with that amount of $$$$$ just has to be dealing drugs. And our drug-sniffing dog alerted to drugs on the cash."

This guy had his truck and guns seized. Will he get either back?

Oh and they caught another "moran" today at the airport. He was going to pick up his wife and had 2 guns and 220 rounds of ammo in his car.

Because apparently one gun incident at the airport isn't enough, a second man was detained by authorities for bringing firearms to Los Angeles International Airport.

Around 11 a.m. Saturday, police stopped a man in an SUV heading to the airport to pick up his wife. The driver voluntarily submitted to a random administrative search of his vehicle.

Inside the Chevrolet Tahoe, police found two unloaded shotguns and about 220 rounds of ammunition.

The driver told officers he recently went to a shooting range to fire the guns and forgot they were in his vehicle.

"Neither gun was registered. Therefore they were confiscated and booked at the LAPD Pacific Division until their ownership and status could be verified," police said in a statement.


http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Please-Stop-Bringing-Guns-to-LAX.html

I don't know if there is any signage at LAX - but there damn well should be big ass signs on what isn't allowed at entrances with chance for motorists to turn around if they are to have their vehicles subject to random searches.

BTW I had a legit question on LBN - it's legal to fly gun(s) in checked baggage - but how the hell can you check your gun(s) in at LAX if you can't even drive it on to airport property?

They have to be registered only if they fit the state's definition of "assault weapons".

The things cops say to cover their asses when they fuck up...;

"Transporting any number of firearms in the manner prescribed by law should not make you subject to arrest."

Perhaps it was in a manner not proscribed by law.

That's why I asked, "What'd they arrest him for?"

Try to keep up.

That's why he was arrested.

That's not why he was arrested. That would be just stupid.

"Excuse me, son. You're having your civil rights violated. We can't have that. I'm going to have to arrest you."

See? Dumb.

Nothing I've read about the manner in which the weapons were being transported or anything else about the incident map to any provisions of the California Penal Code that I'm aware of.

Do you remember Joseph Calanchini, a hunter who was arrested in the lobby of a hotel in Denver where Nancy Pelosi happened to be staying? He was carrying cased firearms. The cops blathered something about illegally transporting weapons, but didn't cite a specific code section.

He was never charged with any crimes. He was arrested falsely. The "reason" for his arrest was apparently just to harass him.

He wasn't trying to take toothpaste OR guns onto an airplane.
:eyes:

I said to an airport, not on an airplane.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

I hope not since you seem like a pretty angry person.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

and that is more than 3.5 ounces. You are wrong there. You can take toothpaste to the airport. Do you seriously believe that if I get stopped and checked picking up a friend at the airport and I happen to have a full 11 oz tube toothpaste in my possession I will be...arrested?

If you can't take toothpaste through security at an airport, just how stupid do you have to be to think it's okay to take 21 guns to an airport?

I say really stupid.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

A newcomer insulting a long timer. Hmm. Enjoy your stay! :hi:

I'm going with option B

This really isn't that hard to understand.

Once again. I say he's stupid for taking 21 guns to an airport. Period. You can infer all you want from that statement.

What do you think he should have done? Left the firearms at home and gone there to get them before driving to the shooting range? That doesn't make any sense at all. That would be a waste of fuel, and wouldn't have done anything to enhance public safety.

And really unless you can show on a map that his route to the gun range was shorter if he brought the guns along, then you don't have an argument here. I don't see in the article where he said WHERE he was headed after picking up his friend.

But even so, I still maintain it was a stupid thing to do. I would have doubled back to get the guns before I would have driven them to the airport.

on a tomato plant by avoiding a Walmart.

"Dominguez, 47, of Orange, said he went to the Los Angeles airport to pick up a friend from Baltimore on Friday. They intended to go target shooting at an outdoor range in San Bernardino County."

Since I don't live in LA I have no idea where any of these places are or if this guy was really saving gas. That's just a nutty defense thrown out by one of his fans here.

You said the article didn't say where he was going. I showed you it did. Now you change the argument. Wild.

Prove he didn't have to double back to his house before going to the shooting range and that point is valid. Otherwise, it's just a silly defense (that this guy didn't mention; someone here brought that up).

In case you can't be bothered to look it up yourself on a map.

It's out of the way.

To get to Orange from LAX you have to go south and east.

To get to San Bernardino you go north and get on I-10 east.

how the fuck do you figure he needs a defense? Name a crime he committed.

They stood a good chance of being arrested...did that make them stupid? It's a serious question.

:sarcasm:

arrgh

and you'll find out toute suite.

But somehow I imagine you have not.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

He was stopped and charged, wasn't he?

If he'd been stopped for, say, having a brake light burnt out, and searched, he'd have been charged. NOTHING to do with the airport.

He hasn't been charged with anything yet.

His civil rights were violated.

:hi:

No charges will be filed, and he'll have a very hard time getting his weapons back.

He has to prove he is innocent? Wrong. They have to prove he is guilty. And you claim you are proud2Blib? Whew.

"I'm a law-abiding, taxpaying gun enthusiast. I have no felonies — up until now."

He already thinks he's a felon.

If he had a loaded gun in the back of his truck it would still be a misdemeanor.

Even section 12285, which basically makes it illegal to drive around aimlessly with a registered "assault weapon", is a misdemeanor.

Neither is the number of guns you can have.

2 different places with 2 different sets of rules.

You can't get a tube of toothpaste through security yet this moran thought it was okay to take 21 guns on the premises. If you don't understand why that is dumb then I can't help you.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

It is not all one place with one set of rules. You seem to just want to repeat that falsehood over and over.

over and over. :crazy:

" It's all one place "
It's not all one place
"you seem to want to misinterpret what I am saying"

Your smilie describes you perfectly.

David

The parking lot is one place, with one set of rules.

The secured parts of the terminal building are a different place with a different set of rules.

a sea slug.

:shrug:

If you cannot see the difference, you have a problem

Some argument.

No, you have a problem because you do not understand the difference between going THROUGH security and being outside the airport. Different rules apply in those different places. Do they make you remove your shoes before driving up to pick someone up? No. See, different places, different rules.

Now you are simply accusing me of things I didn't say. Some argument.

You can't take it through security though. This guy wasn't trying to get guns through security but had them locked in his truck while he was AT the airport.

It seems it IS about owning that many guns since your comparison is not at all valid.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Why?

the outside of an airport and going through security. I also believe that just because someone is going shooting at a range with numerous weapons, that doesn't mean he should be arrested illegally.

Apparently, Mr. Dominguez lives under a rock! :eyes:

Here's a link to the California Penal Code. Please be specific.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=pen&codebody=&hits=20

I'm from Texas and our gun laws are not any near this draconian. In scanning PENAL CODE
SECTION 12285-12289.5 I learned that if I move to CA I must send my assault rifle to an authorized weapons dealer, apply for registration, and if I become registered, can have the dealer deliver my weapon to me.

It seems that getting a federal firearms license is becoming a must with the complex array of state legislation dealing with firearms.

It's pretty ridiculous, and generally written so that things are illegal unless done in accordance with whatever law.

SECTION 12285-12289.5 I learned that if I move to CA I must send my assault rifle to an authorized weapons dealer, apply for registration, and if I become registered, can have the dealer deliver my weapon to me.

You can't import one. They won't let you register it.

A better solution for someone with something like an AR-15 or semiauto AK, is to reconfigure the rifle so that it does not meet the state's definition of "AW".

All you have to do is modify it so that a tool of some kind (e.g. a bullet point) is required to operate the magazine release, so the rifle becomes a fixed-magazine weapon. You also have to use magazines that hold no more than 10 rounds. Parts for making such modifications are available and inexpensive.

It seems that getting a federal firearms license is becoming a must with the complex array of state legislation dealing with firearms.

I have a C&R license. It's made acquiring curio and relic firearms a whole lot easier and less expensive.

:-)

You bring 21 guns to an airport, you're going to be arrested ... period. It may not be fair, it may not be right, but thanks to BushCo, that's the way it is: guilty until proven innocent. Everyone is a suspect and will be treated as one. Anyone who doesn't understand that our government has been working this way since 9/11, has not been paying attention. :-(

not complaining that he should have known better.

Can you imagine DUers saying gee that nice black kid should have known better than to date a white girl in (name a red state)... sure its legal but everyone knows what world we live in... blah blah blah.

You are blaming the victim.

the entire country has let this kind of thing slide for the past eight years. It's going to take quite a while to make things right again. In the meantime, we either live with it or get arrested. I hate it, but that's reality. :-(

We aren't risking shit typing about this. So I say we should be stating that arresting people without them breaking the law is wrong.
I am not asking any DUer to get a gun permit and put a gun in their trunk and drive to the airport.
I just wish people would think about what they are saying. No wonder people who enjoy guns hate progressives. Some of the stuff said here has been downright retarded.

Anyway, thanks for your answer. I agree that it will take time... but it will never be corrected if we just accept it. Just like my example of the black youth dating a white youth. If nobody ever challenged it, nobody said harassing them was wrong... we would be in a much worse place today.

just to make a big stink about it hoping the NRA would take his defense an act like a martyr for gun nuts

Meet Phillip the Gun Enthusiast, who likes to shoot lots of things up. 21 guns and 1000 rounds of ammunition is a lot of fire power for a little target practice.

Two guys spending a day at the range? A number of different weapons means different types of ammunition. So 1,000 rounds is quite easy to see. Box of 100 rounds of this... 50 rounds of that... very easy number to make.
As for 21 guns... let's say he brought along a few they might shoot but might decide not to. And then they spend twenty or thirty min. or an hour on one gun before switching to another. It wasn't the guys entire collection and someone was flying in to meet him to go shooting so he probably brought a number of guns the other guy *might* want to try out.

yes it is on the high end but it isn't like he had 300 guns or something.

We have that many guns in a collection here at home too, but I can't even imagine why I would ever take them all anywhere, let alone an airport????

Unless this guy was a dealer, meeting someone at the AP to go to a gun show, I really don't understand!

The article says he was picking up a friend to go shooting at a range and they were locked in the back of the truck. None of this sounds too off the wall but..I go to the range a lot but don't take a thousand rounds.
Then the article says
At least half a dozen times since Thanksgiving, Dominguez said he made similar stops at the airport carrying his guns and never saw a police checkpoint.

It seems a bit strange to me.

That's just two "bricks" of .22 Long Rifle.

It gives a very reasonable explanation. The airport was not his final destination.

:yoiks:

It doesn't fit on the logic meter. :)

:thumbsup:

That's nonsense, AZBlue.

I wouldn't want to have to clean that many of them at once.

I haven't been target shooting in decades, but I used to occasionally go with friends. Some of them would routinely take numerous guns.

Probably the last trip I took with a couple gun enthusiast friends to a range involved a Desert Eagle (handgun), a couple .22's, 2 .50 cal black powder smooth-bore's, a semi-auto AK-47, a Winchester 30-30 and at least a couple others that I don't remember very well. So probably about 9-12 guns for the 3 of us.

It can happen.

Many moons ago (over two decades ago), I took my uh ... eccentric, pretty-well-off ... old coot of a dad to Ontario Airport in Calif. We walked up to the gate (with the little running belt you put your briefcase on), and the attendant asked my dad to empty his pockets. Dad looked confused and took out his gun and his bullets and laid them on the counter. I kind of gasped, and the attendant kind of did too. He looked at me, and I just said that my dad was a character. I turned to Dad and said, "You weren't supposed to bring those." Dad said, "Oh." The attendant calmly handed me the items, and escorted my dad to the plane (I had given him the "my dad's an eccentric old coot" look). He was a great dad - alcoholic - crazier than bleep, but a great dad. He passed in 2006. He left Sis and I a few bucks that'll take us through these trying times.

Different times, for sure.

HeeHee (that really was a true story - believe it or not).

On a more serious note, this guy was a first-class idiot to be going to an airport with those items in these times.

It was a nice day, so there were a couple of cops there I guess. It was his lucky day.

I worked with this guy once... and he got real close to me.... and asked me..... "Could I ask you a question?"

I said "Sure."

"Do you think I should get a gun.............for EVERY room in the house.?"

It took all I could muster from laughing in his, already too close, face.

"Perhaps."
:silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly:

This guy is just a dipshit.

What law or laws do you believe he was violating?

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=pen&codebody=&hits=20

But I would assume any idiot who took this many guns to an airport is definitely a moran.

If he was in fact planning to pick up a friend and drive to a shooting range out by San Berdoo, there was nothing unreasonable or illegal about his actions.

21 guns. How long would it take to play with 21 guns? An afternoon?

I can't recall ever taking more than 10 firearms to a range, because cleaning them is a hassle. I think 21 is unusual, but it's legal and doesn't put anyone at risk.

But interesting you comment that 10 is your max.

I realize you probably aren't willing to come out and say 21 is crazy. That's okay.

It's not something I am inclined to do, but if someone else wants to do it that's perfectly OK with me.

My maximum of 10 is based on how many firearms I am willing to clean when I get home. Usually I take three or four.

When I go to a range it usually involves taking one or more people who have never fired a gun before. My friends and I often declare a theme for the shoot. For example "Rifles of World War II", "Weapons of the Soviet Union", "Pocket Pistols", or "Firearms designed by John Moses Browning".

:)

Or something like that. I really don't care.

It's a lot of fun to take a variety of weapons to a range and compare them side-by-side.

One time at a shoot in Nevada I was allowed to fire and compare the M60 and M240 machine guns. That was a hoot.

It's about the stupidity of believing you can take 21 guns to an airport and nothing will happen to you.

a bunch of containers in the back of his truck if he was just picking someone one. Other than the 1 illegal weapon (gun, whatever, am not a gun nut) I wouldn't have that many but don't see anything illegal about what he did.

Can I buy one at Cabella's?

<>

Dominguez... ...showed officials the paperwork proving the assault rifle was registered and gave them the keys and combinations of all the lockboxes, he said.

If the "assault style", or whatever, rifle was registered, it wasn't illegal.

For example Florida. Florida law states you can't carry a concealed weapon (even with a concealed carry license) into the sterile area of the airport.

The following is a list of places where you are restricted from carrying a weapon or firearm even if you have a license. Please note that this is a simplified list. The places marked by an asterisk (*) may have exceptions or additional restrictions. See Section 790.06 (12), Florida Statutes for a complete listing.

**************snip*************

inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport*
http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/possession.html

Now I'm not an attorney nor do I play one on TV. I have not flown on an aircraft since before 9/11, so any statements I make are not to be taken as legal advise, even in Florida.

Having said that, many people in Florida legally carry firearms in their vehicles. And you can bring a firearm into the airport securely encased to transport the weapon in the baggage compartment of the aircraft.

So the individual in the news article told the police that he had 16 pistols and five rifles inside the locked cover of the truck bed stored in separate locked boxes. He also told the police that he was picking up a friend at the airport and go planned to go shooting at an outdoor range.

Now admittedly that's a lot of pistols and rifles to take to the range. When I go shooting, I usually carry no more than three handguns. Cleaning firearms is a lot like washing dishes, it's not the most enjoyable part of shooting. If I was showing taking a friend I might carry a larger selection of weapons to try. Since I normally went to the range once or twice a week, I could easily go through 10,000 rounds a year.

For as many weapons as the individual in the news story had (if he did indeed plan to go shooting), 1000 rounds would be reasonable. If you had at least one .22 caliber rifle and several .22 caliber pistols I would probably bring a brick of .22 cal ammo (500 rounds). I would probably include a box of 50 rounds for each other pistol I owned. In my case I own handguns in 9mm, 38 special, 357 magnum, .45 acp, and .44 magnum. One 50 round box of ammo for each of these weapons would total 250 rounds. And if I carried 50 rounds each for the four remaining rifles which might have different calibers than the very common .22, I would add another 200 rounds.

Could two friends spend a day shooting that much ammo with that many pistols and rifles. Considering that I myself normally would shoot 200 rounds on a regular basis with my three firearms in one range session (consider my aversion to cleaning weapons), this doesn't sound totally unreasonable.

If I were a police officer who stopped an individual with this many weapons and that much ammo at a check point, I would have been suspicious. My actions would have been based on the individual's demeanor. Of course, if he was violating the state laws I would arrest him. It also would make common sense to see if indeed he had a friend on the flight from Baltimore who would verify his story.

Somehow, I suspect that the man's motive were not at all sinister. True, that's a lot of firearms and ammo. But if he were really intending to commit an act of terrorism, how or why would he carry 21 weapons including a black powder pistol. You have to admit that he would have looked rather strange carrying five rifles into the airport.

It's difficult for those who don't understand gun enthusiasts to understand this story. The shooting hobby is a fairly inexpensive hobby once you own the firearms. It's challenging and fun. Bur if you reveal that you are a Democrat, you do take a lot of good humored razing.

the sterile area of the airport in FL.

Info from the Orlando Gun Lawyer blog

I was surprised today when an instructor who has been using my book asked whether a TSA official was correct in saying that the entire passenger terminal was considered part of the "sterile area" - and thus a CWP holder could not carry a firearm in any part of the terminal. I was surprised because of the two mistakes in the question. First -- the "sterile area" is a federal definition, and does not refer to the entire terminal -- but (in simplified terms) is used to refer to the area from the Xray machines on. However, the second error involved a misreading of Florida Statute 790.06(12), which makes it crystal clear that carry pursuant to a CWP excludes the entire passenger terminal -- not just the sterile area.

In other words -- all portions of the "passenger terminal" are excluded from CWP carry. That should include the shops, the restaurants, etc.
However, since parking areas are normally separate and not within the passenger terminal building -- it will still be legal for CWP carry in that area.

So -- don't carry in an airport -- even with a CWP.
http://orlandocriminallawyer.blogspot.com/2008/05/airports-and-cwp.html
*********
Florida statutes 790.06 (12)
12) No license issued pursuant to this section shall authorize any person to carry a concealed weapon or firearm into any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05; any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station; any detention facility, prison, or jail; any courthouse; any courtroom, except that nothing in this section would preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in his or her courtroom; any polling place; any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district; any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof; any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms; any school administration building; any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose; any elementary or secondary school facility; any career center; any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile; inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport, provided that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, which firearm is encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; or any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law. Any person who willfully violates any provision of this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Note underlining mine
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0790/SEC06.HTM&Title=-%3E2008-%3ECh0790-%3ESection%2006#0790.06

Florida statutes 790.001 Definitions
18) "Sterile area" means the area of an airport to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property in accordance with federally approved airport security programs.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=790.001&URL=CH0790/Sec001.HTM

"It's difficult for those who don't understand gun enthusiasts to understand this story" that is a statement with a lot of meaning. Just as it is

was difficult for me to understand the arguments against smoke stack scrubbers . I didn't want to hear any reason from anybody about anything that

opposed my views as an active against anything they had to say union activist.

A non-criminal citizen, driving a legal truck, in legal possession of legal guns, going into a public parking lot gets stopped by the police and arrested on 'suspicion'.

Next the Department of Homeland Security will start busting into people's houses because they overheard something 'suspicious' said in a telephone conversation.

<>

This is a case of harassment.

we are in far deeper shit than any of us realize.
:grr: :eyes:

Once a friend of a friend was just such a neurotic. You think that people with debilitating mental problems are as cute as "Monk"? This guy, a Vietnam vet, always dressed in camo. Always. He didn't seem to have any other kind of clothes.

One day he was stopped and damn near arrested at a movie theater because he had bought in a combat knife, and refused to take it to his car. He absolutely HAD to have it near him.

Yes, there's some fault to go around in that he was sent to war in the first place, and then more because he didn't get proper psychiatric care afterwards. But he had a certain degree of responsibility in not facing his own problem, especially when everyone else told him he had one.

I'm sure a lot of you want to see this guy as a moran, and others want to use him as an object lesson for one cause or another. I just see him as another sad loser.

...

1. This guy was reportedly on the way to a firing range. We don't know he carried weapons everywhere.

2. If the theater asked your friend to take the knife out or leave he would be committing a crime by staying.

3. Depending upon the jurisdiction he may also have been committing a crime if the knife where concealed in any way.

Yes this guy had less than perfect judgment but I wouldn't automatically lump him in with your friend without more information.

I thought it was a mistake. But since you used it also , I was wondering am I missing something about using "moran" . Or was it just a typo ?

A "moran" is someone who sticks to right-wing beliefs despite any and all evidence. It is named after the guy in this picture, a counter-protester to an antiwar march, which has been featured again and again in DU:



Now you can add "moran" to your vocabulary and use it when appropriate.

Thanks for contributing to my ongoing education. !

Hopefully Slackmaster, our resident expert on CA firearm law, will be around to clarify which law this person. Is there something specific in CA about an firearms in cars at airports?

A 20 gun collection and (on average) 50 rounds per gun for 2 people is not an unusual shooting range outing. Its kinds of a small amount of ammo per gun actually. It also sounds like he was complying with Federal firearm transport law.

For what its worth, I've picked up people at the airport with loaded guns in my car before. It surprises me that anyone would think its illegal. I understand why there are no civilian guns in the secured area, but not why airports would have an issue with guns in cars stowed away.

Considering that it is PERFECTLY LEGAL to bring a cased, unloaded firearm AND ammunition to the check-in counter at LAX, declare them, and put them in a piece of luggage to be checked as baggage, I can't see how having legal firearms properly secured in your car in the parking lot of LAX could be a crime of any kind. You have to go through the parking lot to get to the terminal.

I've flown with pistols, rifles, shotguns, and even registered "assault weapons" in and out of California airports many times.

The article does not say what he is charged with. It doesn't say that he HAS been charged with anything. Here is the California Attorney General's page on transporting firearms in California.

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/travel.php

Information in the article indicates that the guy was completely in compliance with the law. I am not aware of any extra restrictions at LAX, other than inside of the secured areas (same as any other US airport). Since it's legal to have a cased firearm and ammunition in the non-secured parts of the terminal (people transport them in checked baggage all the time), logically it has to be legal to have them in the parking lot as well.

If the "assault rifle" (sic) was registered and in the locked trunk of his car, no law was broken AFAIK.

:shrug:

Sounds like a pretty serious charge to me.
However it does lead to the notion that stopping a guy and arresting on suspicion is a little unwarranted.

Such as the law is, gun owners should avoid carrying their 'assault weapons' to the airport in Los Angeles. Other airports in other places, well it doesn't seem to be a problem.

The expression does not occur anywhere in the entire body of state or federal law.

rifle is a rifle that is accessorized with a lot of composite materials. It differs from a regular rifle only in cosmetics. It is also generally less

powerful on the scale of available cartridges. Most of them are .223 caliber like all the M 16"s. Their awesome look comes from the necessity of

being made lightweight and element proof. All standard deer rifles are much more powerful than almost any assault rifle. There self loading

capability is also common in rifles. I would believe that this is the first correct description of an assault rifle.

I thought the only place guns weren't allowed was past the checkpoint. I have recently found out that they are not allowed anywhere on airport

property

If you can take them to the check-in counter (and you most certainly can), it has to be legal to have them in non-secured areas of the airport.

Teleportation...from Airport Road?

Will research that.

Federal law prohibits firearms in the secure areas. I was wrong. Unsecure areas are being challenged by local authorities as to whether guns are or ar not allowed.

There is an ongoing debate about whether people with permits to carry loaded guns should be allowed to do so in airports.

...nonsecured area. Airport authorities have said is ok to bring an unloaded firearm in a locked case to the ticket counter.

An assault
rifle is a rifle that is accessorized with a lot of composite materials. It differs from a regular rifle only in cosmetics. It is also generally less

powerful on the scale of available cartridges. Most of them are .223 caliber like all the M 16"s. Their awesome look comes from the necessity of

being made lightweight and element proof. All standard deer rifles are much more powerful than almost any assault rifle. There self loading

capability is also common in rifles. I would believe that this is the first correct description of an assault rifle.

He will probably get his guns back, after the "authorities" fuck with him for a while.

$50k in cash? He'd lose it to the 1980's Reagan-era WOD confiscation laws.

Why would he be carrying $50K in cash? If he chose to, it would be nobodies business.

And a subsequent police investigation would reveal that it was actually only $30,000 in cash.

Other than being in a "Post 9/11 World," like all of those who take away your rights constantly say.

He seems to have done everything right (from what we know). Kind of silly because he could quite reasonably be detained for some time while they checked everything... but I don't see the crime.

Could be some minor violation of the transport laws. But they don't seem to be announcing what it was so I am suspicious that there may not be any crime.

Obviously it wasn't a smart thing to do. The police could quite reasonably detain him for a while while they checked paperwork. More haste then it is worth.

However, I don't see what law he actually violated. It doesn't say what he was arrested for (specifics). He appears to have kept the guns secure, provided police with the appropriate information etc.

I can see the concern for the police. I would have no problem if they had held him for a couple hours while they double checked all the paperwork etc. His actions while not insane would definitely flag as suspicious. But I don't understand the arrest.

Not a bright move by this guy but there is no danger from a rifle stored unloaded in a locked box. How else would you get one to a check in counter?

Makes me wonder what he rest of the story is. Could be he got all NRA with the cop and mouthed off which shouldn't get you arrested but sure will. Could be an overzealous cop determined to make a big "terrorist" arrest.

There's no way to tell from what I've read so far but it looks fishy. Real fishy.

The guy reportedly opened the trunk for the police and provided the keys/combinations to open the individual cases. Could be he mouthed off but there is no indication I see of it so far.

My guess is once the cops saw the weapons they had already determined to arrest him no mater what. When it turned out he was doing everything right... the ignored that and went ahead.

It is possible that he made some minor error and violated some bit of transport law but I would think the police would have indicated which one more precisely if that were the case.

He's a moron. That's all. A lawyer will get this dropped. However, anyone stupid enough to bring 21 guns to the fucking airport in this day and age is a complete idiot. Then to act all innocent like he had no idea that anyone would be suspicious of a man carrying a trunk full of guns and ammo through the airport... Not to mention the fact that the cost to air freight stuff is astronomical these days.. Just plain stupid.

"Not to mention the fact that the cost to air freight stuff is astronomical these days.. Just plain stupid."

According to the story, he was picking up a friend at the airport not shipping anything.

And many of us who have no problem with the police being suspicious and even questioning him and the person he was meeting for a while while they check paperwork think it is unreasonable for the police to arrest him without a valid charge regardless of his poor (but legal) choice. Why should he be responsible for getting a lawyer to drop a bogus charge?

:argh:

which now makes me look like an ass. :) However, I stand by my claim that the guy is an idiot. Driving around the airport with a trunk full of guns in this day and age, is stupid. I don't like the near police state we live in either but I'm not going to load my trunk with guns and drive around the airport assuming that no one would be suspicious...

Everything is either legal or illegal. There is no gray area here. People who are not doing anything illegal have a right not to be harassed by police.

I agree with what you say but that's not the reality of the situation. The reality is that bringing a trunk load of guns to the airport puts you at risk of being searched and detained. Thats the reality. We can argue whether it's right or not all day, and we would agree it's not, but the fact is that's the way it is. While there shouldn't be any "grey area" there is and until we pull our collective heads out of our asses it's just smarter not to do certain things. It's not "illegal" to make a joke about a bomb in the airport but try it and see what happens.

easy and relatively risk-free...and there are a lot more potential targets there. It would be a hell of a lot easier for a nutcase to do mass murder at the stadium than at the (an) airport. I find "well, that's the way it is" to be cowardly acceptance of a massive loss of civil liberties, much like the aptly-hated "get over it" phrase. Niemoller would be appalled.

This is complete bullshit.

preferably a storage unit next to the shooting range, then driven them there, one by one by one. See? It's simple! :sarcasm:

Every truck and car should be searched, see?

Why should society, in this day and age, accept that a "law-abiding" citizen has the right to bring guns to an airport? Say they did nothing about this idiot bringing firearms to the airport because they were "locked in boxes", then, once in the parking garage, he UNLOCKS all of the guns and goes batshit crazy? What would we be saying about airport security then? The interesting thing about criminals is that there was a time when they WEREN'T criminals. This could likely have been the case here, although, as it turns out, he is just a fucking idiot an not a nutjob. And anyone defending his actions would probably let the 2nd amendment fuck them up the ass if it were a man.

On edit: Why arrest him? So that the next asshole thinks twice before bringing weapons, legal or otherwise, to the airport.

Because someone could do that anywhere not just at an airport.

And people DO legally travel by plane with firearms.

BTW your last sentence probably violates the board rules.

Keep smoking what you are smoking. You obviously are living in a parallel universe.

Apparently you don't think someone should be able to transport legally owned guns in a locked case in their trunk while picking someone up at the airport because they might start shooting in the parking lot...

How is that different than a school zone... or a wallmart parking lot? Aside form the fact that he would be gunned down a whole lot faster.

Your idea that someone might possibly take the gun out of the case in the parking lot and go crazy is a rational that could be applied to ANY location permitting the banning of guns entirely.

Your lack of thought is showing.

Please reread the story in question. M'kay?

You brought up the idea that guns should not be allowed at the airport at all. That is separate and distinct from the story in the OP. A fact you don't seem to comprehend.
I can only assume this is a lack of thought because the other option would be you are not smart enough and I don't currently think that.

Now how about you answer my question.

The basis of our legal system is that everything that has not been proscribed through due process of law, is legal.

People actually have the right to do, say, or own anything that has not been made illegal.

Might have a proctologist look into that.

your stupid friend gets arrested and now we should all be afraid because we might become that stupid one day too. NOT!!

I admit it was stupid. And if they guy had just been stopped for questioning and verification for two hours I would have no problem but apparently you are ok with him being arrested.

So are you ok with arresting protesters because after all they *might* be the kind that protest violently?

You need to get a grip. Our legal system is supposed to protect everyone. Not just the people you like.

To the airport, and then on to a shooting range.

That's not stupid. It's thrifty.

A number of reasons. For example people travel with them and you can't check your gun without bringing it there. People who have a legitimate self defense concern might have a bodyguard with a gun meet them at the airport.
And perhaps most importantly because we have no real reason not to and we have a second amendment.


This scenario could happen anywhere not just at the airport. ANYWHERE. So either you have to accept the possibility in exchange for the freedom... or you would have to ban transporting guns altogether.
Unless their is something particular to the airport that makes it special. Of course the thing that stands out is that it has more security than other places so the 'going crazy' wouldn't last as long.
The parking lot at the airport is just another parking structure.


Typically you arrest people for breaking a law. If he did not... then arrest is unwarranted and illegal.
Put another way... why arrest the black kid even though he wasn't speeding? To warn other black kids not to date white girls.
Police are their to enforce the law not what they wish the law was. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to seriously consider the ramifications.

I don't have any guns in my house but I do have a lot of things that could be weapons. I'm no murderer now but that doesn't mean I couldn't snap and kill everyone in my apartment building. Should the police remove all my cutlery and blunt objects to prevent my being a threat?

Sure it's stretching the analogy I know but sometimes when Ms Stompy gets going upstairs it's closer than I prefer!

I just don't like the idea of people being arrested while committing no crime and giving no indication that one is being planned. Especially not as a lesson to the public on what laws we should know about that aren't written down.

G.W. Bush. Better to arrest him (invade his sovereign nation) than to risk him shooting someone (using weapons of mass destruction.)

Then they should take it easy on him. The cops statement sounds like he thinks it was a mistake.

The guy didn't break any laws.

hmmm

Justiice will prevail! (if he has enmough money)

as gets done so often around here.
:-)

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

moran