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This will be fun to watch in the news.

By The Armorer on March 27, 2007 | | Comments (23)

As long as you aren't Phillip Thompson, anyway. From the Capitol Police:

Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 3:40 PM

To: Yeatman, Erin (SAA)

Subject: Arrest In Russell Bldg.

A man entered the Lower Delaware & C Street Door of the RSOB at approximately 10:50 a.m. An administrative search (x-ray machine) revealed that he was in possession of a loaded pistol with 2 additional fully loaded magazines. It was determined that he did not have a license to carry a pistol in the District of Columbia. He was in possession of an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition. He was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with Carrying a Pistol Without a License, Unregistered Firearm and Unregistered Ammunition.

Sgt. Kimberly Schneider

Public Information Officer

Webb's office responds:

To our knowledge, this incident was an oversight by the Senator's aide. Phillip Thompson is a former Marine, a long-term friend and trusted employee of the Senator. We are still awaiting facts.

And, it would appear, that it wasn't Thompson's pistol...

A congressional official briefed on the incident said Webb gave the gun to Thompson when the assistant drove him to an airport earlier in the day. Thompson, upon entering the Senate building, forgot he was carrying the weapon.

Heh. As I understand it - guess who gets to go through security *without* being checked? Members of Congress. Remember the brou-ha-ha over Cynthia McKinney getting stopped? Can one infer from this that the good Senator goes about his daily business of governance... armed? Doesn't bother me, personally. Except... well, it *would* be illegal, that being a Federal Building and all, and the semi-official position of the Democrat party being that one should rely on the police for their protection, one needn't go armed anywhere, ever, because, well, you know, the police will take care of that for you.

Be interesting to see how this all plays out. It will give some insight into Senator Webb, how the press will react to the Democrat majority on the issue, and how the Democrats are going to act on the issue of firearms - especially in context of the recent DC district court ruling.

That said - if you're going to carry, you've got to keep your situational awareness up. There isn't a federal government building anywhere where it's legal to carry concealed. It will be too bad if this gets an otherwise good man ground up - yet, at the same time, is Thompson any more deserving of special consideration than any other good decent DC citizen or visitor caught up in the same situation?

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23 Comments

By BillT on March 27, 2007 6:09 AM
Thompson, upon entering the Senate building, forgot he was carrying the weapon. Gee, just like Sandy Berger forgot those rolled-up documents stuck in his socks and Froot o' the Looms when he left the National Archives. A *pox* on those manufacturers of featherweight handguns and ammo! What's next, an SP howitzer weighing less than a Prius? A *pox*, I say!
 
By Oldloadr on March 27, 2007 7:20 AM
Of course, he's a former marine and the weapon becomes an apendage of the person in the Corps...right? Whereas I'm just a dumb ol' bomb loader, but in 2 years and 8 months in Iraq, I never ever forgot if I was armed or not or if I had a round chambered or not. That's all I got to say about that.
 
By FbL on March 27, 2007 7:41 AM
Oldloadr, Apparently some forget. Last year at the USO we had a infantry LTC who sheepishly appeared in our facilities to ask for assistance with his sidearm. He'd been so used to wearing it after a year of combat that he'd gotten on the plane with it (loaded) in Iraq. He hadn't gone through any security checks on any stop-overs (hadn't gone past the gate) and so was never called on it. In SoCal he stopped and met up with his son who would be flying with him to the Pacific NW to meet the rest of the family. Didn't discover he had the weapon until he tried to go back through security to continue his flight. Oops! Of course, he couldn't continue with an unsecured firearm. Fortunately for him, we dug up a metal box and a padlock and sent him on his way. But, boy was he embarrassed!! ROFL! Never thought I'd see such a look of embarrassed chagrin on a tough old bird like that... :D
 
By Oldloadr on March 27, 2007 8:25 AM
FBL - The fact that he was embarrassed means he knew he just had a major brain f@rt.
 
By Al on March 27, 2007 8:34 AM
I won't deny that I dislike this weirdo and that it's a travesty to me that he squeaked out a win over George Allen, and I always thought there's something not right about this guy to begin with. Unstable and certifiable. The way his sleazy campaign smeared a fine man like George Allen, it would be nice to see justice done now, but I doubt it with democrats in charge. Not the kind of behavior or irresponsible "oversight" we should expect from elected leaders and their staff. What a circus the Hill is becoming now.
 
By FbL on March 27, 2007 9:36 AM
FBL - The fact that he was embarrassed means he knew he just had a major brain f@rt. Oh yes, absolutely! I've since had a great time using him as an example when people ask about the creative ways we have helped visitors... the enlisted personnel especially appreciate it. :D
 
By Oldloadr on March 27, 2007 10:17 AM
Fbl - That's an O & E thing that all of us Es enjoy (Os embarrasing themselves). Of course, if we saw a norm...er civilian laughing at one of our officers, we'd kick their a$$. (LOL)
 
By FbL on March 27, 2007 10:28 AM
Of course, if we saw a norm...er civilian laughing at one of our officers, we'd kick their a$$. Uhoh. I'm in trouble, then... :D
 
By Oldloadr on March 27, 2007 10:40 AM
Did I mention USO volunteers are exempt from obligatory a$$-kickings?
 
By Justthisguy on March 27, 2007 10:45 AM
I know exactly where mine are at this very moment. Lawfully stored, too. As somebody wrote in the Dillon catalog, of all places, "Where is your piece RIGHT NOW?" I think it's Mr. Webb's fault, for not telling the guy that there was a gun in that sack.
 
By Oldloadr on March 27, 2007 12:08 PM
I live in the 2nd ammendment friendly South, but I don't abuse it; I only keep 2 loaded (a .38 and a 20ga). ;) Did I mention we've only had one break-in in my neighborhood since we moved there when I retired in 99?
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 27, 2007 1:43 PM
Oldloadr - Punk. Mine are a .45 and a .12 gauge. A M1911 and a M97 Trench Gun. This *is* the Castle, after all. We don't need no trigger finger relief on our frame.
 
By Oldloadr on March 27, 2007 1:54 PM
Does it count that my 20ga has a 3" chamber? Besides, being a lowly zoomie, I only ever really trained on .38cal and 9mm in the sidearm department. I bought my 20ga when I was doing a lot of skeet shooting and you got degree of difficulty points for putting less shot in the air. I like to stay within my corps competancies...
 
By Oldloadr on March 27, 2007 2:28 PM
Anyway, when I sat up my home defense plan, we had carpets. Now that we've put in hardwood floors, I might upgrade to a 12ga...
 
By Pogue on March 27, 2007 3:43 PM
One 1911 in .45, one Springfield XD in .45 (hey, Her Accuracy needs one handy, too) so we can fight our way to the 870 in 12 ga. (Tactical buck and with 3 slugs on the side saddle.) And woe be unto the bad guys if we get to the His & Hers gun safes. I love Arizona....
 
By NevadaDailySteve on March 27, 2007 4:11 PM
I keep a .40 loaded in a dresser next to the bed. I keep all my other stuff locked in another room. If we get to brag about things that go bang I have a couple of pistols my father-in-law brought back from Germany after WWII. One is a pre-WWII pre-nazi-era Walther PPK and the other is a Nazi produced Radom 9mm. Both shoot very well, I do better with the Walther but I'm sure of hitting anything larger than a tin can at 30 feet with either of them or the .40.
Anyway, when I sat up my home defense plan, we had carpets. Now that we've put in hardwood floors, I might upgrade to a 12ga... Posted by Oldloadr
I'm sorry, am I missing something? I've looked at that several times and the best I can do is go "HUH?"
 
By Oldloadr on March 27, 2007 6:12 PM
NevadaDailySteve - Less blood splatter...
 
By Neffi on March 27, 2007 6:54 PM
MORE blood with the 12 bore, actually- but easier to clean up on hardwood than carpet!
 
By Oldloadr on March 27, 2007 7:08 PM
Neffi - That's what I meant. Now that we have hardwood, blood splatter will be easier to clean up.
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 27, 2007 8:44 PM
You're scaring the GFW's guys... NDS - Radom? Ya mean a pistol that shoots like this one does?
 
By NevadaDailySteve on March 27, 2007 9:51 PM
NDS - Radom? Ya mean a pistol that shoots like this one does?
Ahem, it LOOKS like that one. It might even shoot like it if the same shooter was pulling the trigger.
 
By Maggie on March 27, 2007 10:52 PM
Can't trace a Louisville Slugger. Especially after I throw into the burn pile behind the house. Concur on the hardwood floors. It will break my heart if I ever have to dispose of the oriental in my bedroom.
 
By KCSteve on March 28, 2007 1:05 PM
It will break my heart if I ever have to dispose of the oriental in my bedroom.
I'll bet if he hears about this discussion he'll 'dispose' of himself - less blood splatter that way.