TENNESSEE: Blount County nurse gets no jail time for NYC gun charge

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 3/20/12 | News Sentinel staff

[SmithL]

A Blount County woman arrested on a gun possession charge while visiting New York City has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge, according to the Associated Press.

Meredith Graves, a registered nurse from Louisville, was spared jail time under the plea deal.

She pleaded guilty Monday to criminal possession of a weapon, according to the AP.

Charged with felony gun possession, Graves posted a $2,000 bond and faced a minimum sentence of 3½ years in prison after reportedly requesting to check her loaded, .32-caliber handgun with police at the World Trade Center Memorial on Dec. 22.

[andy58-in-nh]

The gun laws in most of New York State are better than those in all of Massachusetts. It's NYC that is truly repressive. Massachusetts' firearms statutes are horrible (you can't even buy a shotgun without an FID card).

Oh, and...

"Section 131L. (a) It shall be unlawful to store or keep any firearm, rifle or shotgun including, but not limited to, large capacity weapons, or machine gun in any place unless such weapon is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged so as to render such weapon inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user. For purposes of this section, such weapon shall not be deemed stored or kept if carried by or under the control of the owner or other lawfully authorized user."

The fine for violations: $500- $10,000 and 1 to 10 years in prison.

I kid you not.

In my state, the gun laws fit on one page and there's not much that's prohibited (the way it ought to be).

[RitchieAprile]

you sure like to sling the aspersions today doncha?

[TennesseeGirl]

"what was she thinking? noone ‘forgets’ that they have a handgun with them."

If you read the whole story, you will see she tried to be a good citizen by going over to a security guard and asking if she could check her gun in after seeing the no guns allowed sign. The security guard could have secured the weapon for her instead of treating her like a threat.

[JOAT]

Wow.

Thin-skinned folks are especially unsuited to carry.

Ha! Maybe you should be a good boy turn yourself in...

[wardaddy]

How did she forget she had it with her if she asked to check it at the visitor's center.

It says it was with her in New York inadvertently which is not be default “forgetting”

[from occupied ga]

If you weight it by number of people affected, then NY is worse. The entire police state of MA has about 6.6 million people Massholes in it. The dictatorship of NYC has about 8.3 million.

[andy58-in-nh]

Fair point. And not only do New York's obscene, anti-Constitutional gun laws affect millions of law-abiding New Yorkers, but millions more who visit the city each year. New Jersey and Connecticut firearms laws are not much better, which means if you work in New York, you can't escape to the suburbs to practice your 2nd Amendment rights.

But if you're a career criminal or illegal immigrant... it's party time, baby!!

I lived there a couple years and couldn't wait to get out.

[C210N]

The entire police state of MA has about 6.6 million people Massholes in it...

No, you are wrong. Less than 6,599,999, and one a-h living outside of it. And actually MANY less than 6,599,999, as I know many decent folks... we're just outnumbered.

File in the idiocy of labeling everybody the same department.

[hoosierham]

Does the misdemeanor gun conviction now bar her from gun ownership or use?

The statists have passed lots of gotcha laws .

[ErnBatavia]

She DEFINITELY looks “Not Guilty” to me!!

"Oh, Nurse..."

[G Larry]

Tell DA:
FU...2A trumps your NYC nonsense.

[RatRipper]

I’ve been around a long time. I’m divorced 11 years after being married 19. My record goes back to the 1970’s. I am STILL batting 1.000 with nurses!!!!! Just makes me smile!!

[from occupied ga]

I think your post proved my point.

[from occupied ga]

Does the misdemeanor gun conviction now bar her from gun ownership or use?

I don't know. I remember some controversy about it, but not the outcome.

[USS Alaska]

A person with a concealed carry becomes so comfortable that you do in fact forget it's there.

Very true.

I've carried since the 70s and don't fell dressed without at least one gun.

There are multiple guns in my vehicle, and I sometimes forget that they are in the vehicle.

I've got to be careful when I travel to certain states so that I'll know whether or not I choose to break the law or it happens by accident.

[USS Alaska]

It shall be unlawful to store or keep any firearm, rifle or shotgun including, but not limited to, large capacity weapons, or machine gun in any place unless such weapon is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged so as to render such weapon inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user.

So my S & W 357 magnum, loaded, and sitting beside my speed loader, in my bed stand drawer, and my 12 gauge shotgun, loaded with 00 Buckshot, would be unlawful?

[andy58-in-nh]

So my S & W 357 magnum, loaded, and sitting beside my speed loader, in my bed stand drawer, and my 12 gauge shotgun, loaded with 00 Buckshot, would be unlawful?

Yes. As would my two loaded pistols in the quick-access draw safe next to my bed and the shotgun behind the closet door. Which is one of many reasons not to live in Massachusetts. They don't want anyone but cops and criminals capable of self-defense.

[smokingfrog]

Good deal.

Thanks for the update.

Took bad she felt she had to plea guilty to such a cr@p charge.

[Nailbiter]

She was allowed to plead to a misdemeanor and a $200 fine

Some heavy irony with this fine and plea.