Tennessee tourist arrested for bringing pistol into 9/11 Memorial

nypost.com ^ | 12/29/2011 | JAMIE SCHRAM, C.J. SULLIVAN and DAREH GREGORIAN

[massmike]

A tourist from Tennessee waltzed into one of the most secure sites in the city — and politely asked a cop if she could check her weapon.

Instead, she was dragged out in cuffs.

Now, Meredith Graves, 39, is facing at least three years in prison for thinking New York’s gun laws are anything like those in the Bible Belt.

Graves, a fourth-year medical student, showed up at the memorial on Dec. 22 to pay her respects during a trip north for a job interview.

She didn’t realize that the loaded .32-caliber pistol in her purse would be a problem until she saw a sign at the site that read, “No guns allowed,” sources said.

“She remembered she had the gun on her,” a source said. She walked up to a security guard and said, “I have this gun. Where can I check it?”

The guard told her that she was in luck because of “law enforcement day” — and led her to another area.

When she got to that section, she asked another cop, “We have this gun — can we check it in here? We [my husband and I] are not law-enforcement.”

That’s when she was arrested.

Graves, who has a full legal carry permit in Tennessee, was locked up on a weapons-possession charge and held on $2,000 bond that she posted yesterday. She is due in court on March 19.

She’ll soon find out exactly how serious New York City is about illegal guns. The Manhattan DA’s Office is pursuing a conviction on felony gun possession — carrying a minimum sentence of 3 1/2 years.

Mayor Bloomberg, with the help of the five district attorneys, has crusaded against the flow of illegal guns, especially from the South.

[xsrdx]

The NRA should be interested - this is clearly a case where a completely innocent, law abiding citizen is being singled out for simple gun possession absent any other crime. She's a model defendant.

If DC v. Heller has any teeth, this would seem to be the test case to challenge NYC.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

The insanity of the hoplophobes cannot be overestimated.

They are like the people who faint at the sight of blood or spiders, beyond all reason.

Many years ago a couple with 2 boys, about 6 and 8, came in the store for paint. They picked the colors and I was mixing them and talking to the husband. The mother and kids were just looking around. All of a sudden she came charging by dragging a kid in each hand and ran out the door. The husband went after her to see what the problem was.

We had a large display of machetes, cane knives and axes, she saw them and didn't want her sons to see them! The husband actually asked me why we displayed things like that openly.

Can you guess where they were from?

It is just unmitigated Batcrap crazy!

[USS Alaska]

That was a gross over-reaction on the part of NYPD and the rent-a-cop. Looks like another good reason for those of us in the Bible belt to avoid NYC, as if we needed one.

I had an apartment in NY city for years and I always carried a snubby 38 {without a NY permit}.

I knew the legal risk, but in the last year I had my place in the city they set a record with 2,000 + gun murders in the city.

I decided that carrying was worth the legal risk.

The last time I was in the city I was carrying {went to see the Rocketts at Christmas a few years ago, had dinner and went to ground zero.

I would never go into that hell hole unarmed, and I rarely go back.

I would also not advising using a gun unless it was your absolute last resort to save lives, because you will go to jail.

[italianquaker]

Meanwhile bumberg allowed the occupiers to rape,steal property and break multiple laws, nyc is really the theatre of the absurd

[GenXteacher]

It is a pity that this happened anywhere in these United States. I guess she wasn’t aware she left when she entered NYC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxtdoJN-IIw

[longhorn too]

The way I look at it, if my gun is not allowed then I don’t want to be there anyway!

[Coldwater Creek]

Sorry! it was actually ME.

Maria from Memphis

[taildragger]

The liberals have done this crap all the time and taken to the Supremes, i.e. the Texas privacy laws.

I have gotten so cynical, is she part of a set up to take it to the Supremes....

[taildragger]

The liberals have done this crap all the time and taken to the Supremes, i.e. the Texas privacy laws.

I have gotten so cynical, is she part of a set up to take it to the Supremes....

[taildragger]

The liberals have done this crap all the time and taken to the Supremes, i.e. the Texas privacy laws.

I have gotten so cynical, is she part of a set up to take it to the Supremes....

[Allegra]

This really sucks ping.

[humblegunner]

Indeed.

[reed13k]

Now see I’ve always preferred “There’s smart and then there is wise.”

[Allegra]

New York’s a fun city to visit - and also has enormous photographic potential.

I enjoy visiting NYC from time to time. I have a sister there and I'm a theater geek.

But as much fun as I have every time I go, it's always good to get back home where things aren't so frenetic...and where we can carry guns.

[Jack Hydrazine]

There are 14 types of intelligence so she must be deficient in one or more of them.

[Tainan]

Good one Froggy...that Tactical Face Palm made my morning!

[PhiloBedo]

I don’t know why anyone would voluntarily go to NYC.. It’s the s**thole of the US, it’s like Calcutta.

[Red in Blue PA]

A responsible CHL holder checks the laws in the State to which they are traveling before they leave.

So you believe NYC law can trump the US Constitution?

Am amazed so many blame the victim of these unjust laws. This nonsense needs to be fought....stop blaiming the victims of these onerous "laws", for lack of a better word.

[Red in Blue PA]

Out-of-state weapons have been used in a slew of homicides, including the murder of NYPD cop Peter Figoski on Dec. 12. Sources don’t believe Graves’ intentions were sinister.

A 4th year medical student who voluntarily hands over her gun. Gee, ya think?

When I read stories like this, I swear to God I think this country is gone for Good.

[Red in Blue PA]

Boy, there are a lot of idiotic posts on this thread. One poster called her a “marone”. Who is the dumb-bell? The 2nd Amendment trumps state attempts to restrict gun possession

Thank you! At least one person here gets it!