Posted on 10/11/2005 9:25:35 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
McALLEN State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, missed his flight to Austin on Monday evening not because of inclement weather, but because security screeners found a 9 mm handgun in his briefcase as he tried to get on a plane at McAllen-Miller International Airport.
McAllen police detained Hinojosa shortly before 6 p.m., said McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez.
The incident involved the senator, a handgun and the airport, he said. However, Rodriguez would not say whether the senator was actually arrested for violating a federal law.
"We are conducting an investigation," Rodriguez said minutes before the senator walked out the front door of the police department to an onslaught of questions from reporters.
Hinojosa said that he had been cleaning his truck this weekend, and placed his handgun in his briefcase.
He said he simply forgot he had placed the gun in his carry-on baggage before he went through the security checkpoint at McAllens airport.
Hinojosa said he was not arrested for the federal violation, and even claimed he did not violate any federal laws because he did not have malicious intent when going through the metal detectors.
"I was handled like any other citizen," Hinojosa said when asked if he received special treatment because of his post.
The Transportation Security Administration screeners handled themselves professionally, he said.
Hinojosa became agitated at reporters when he was repeatedly asked whether law enforcement would have treated an ordinary citizen the same way.
"You understand English?" the senator asked. "I have a license to carry a concealed weapon."
Although the senator may have a concealed handgun license, federal law clearly no one except "law enforcement officers who are authorized to fly armed" may carry a firearms or ammunition in their carry-on baggage.
"The regulations are strictly enforced," reads a statement on TSAs Web site. "Violations can result in criminal prosecution and the imposition of civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation."
Darrell Mixon, TSA federal security director for all Valley airports, was apprehensive about commenting on Hinojosas detainment Monday evening.
Mixon said there was an exception that allowed law enforcement personnel to carry firearms on a plane. He said he was unsure whether legislators fell under that exception.
McAllen police were enforcing local law, he said. He referred further questions to Rodriguez, who declined to go into further detail about the incident.
Cari Hammerstrom covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4424.
LOL! We need to invent malicious intent detectors, Chuy!
"he simply forgot he had placed the gun in his carry-on baggage"
RRRRRiiiigggghhhhhttttt!!!!! (sarc)
It's a good thing it didn't happen in Austin or Ronny "Give 'em hell" Earle would be browbeating Grand Juries to indict him for conspiracy or some other such tin-foil hat offense.
There are only 2 likely reasons why this happened.
1) He was trying to make a story by saying he was able to get on a plane with a gun (although he'd probably get arrested for that)
2) He forgot it was in his briefcase. Not saying it's ok to forget you have a gun on you, but in Texas guns are pretty common and I can see someone securing it in a briefcase and then forgetting about it. Yeah, it's stupid and you should know where your firearms are; however, it's not a huge deal. If it were a republican we'd be saying he made a boneheaded mistake. And that's what I'm saying for this guy.
The Corpus Christi Caller Times has a related article to the above mentioned state senator. I saw him at Houston Hobby terminal waiting for a Southwest Airlines flight about 2 years ago out of Houston. Maybe he was packing heat then?
Nah.. the senator has a "d" by his name.
But, but, but, no less a sage than Molly Ivins says he treats politicians equally no matter whether there's a "D" or "R" next to their names. LOL!
Senator Chuy Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
"However, Rodriguez would not say whether the senator was actually arrested for violating a federal law."
Let's see....South Texas elected official...violates law...NEVER happens.
RnC
Rules are for thee, not for me.
I don't care what political party he is from, if average joe citizen with a carry permit can't take his gun on the plane then this clown shouldn't either.
"I'm a US Senator." I live in a third world country right now and he sounds like these clowns we have down here.
Ha, remind me to tell the next highway patrolman who stops me (just saying) that I had no intent to drive faster than fifty-five so his citation is meaningless. So, hey, that'd just about wrap it up...I'd probably be asked to follow him on in.
~;-D
I hear these nonsensical "I forgot about my handgun" statements and wonder how these "forgetful" individuals are given license-to-carry privileges at all.
As in, no one with much familiarity with handguns (or, actually, all firerms) ever "forgets" where they are, unless something else is going on with that person's ability to think and remember important details. A Senator so affected is a big, big problem.
I don't agree with your second point, AND I'm familiar with life in Texas. Just saying, I don't know anyone who "forgets" their handgun/s. The guy's story is not plausible (that he "forgot" his handgun was in his briefcase -- HE REMEMBERED THE BRIEFCASE, something to think about here).
He either has problem character (intentions/motivations he's not admitting here, something similar) or, he's suffering from some perceptual, reasoning problem...BOTH are remarkable in a Senator, should be reason to review the guy's capabilities before a panel of some sort. Not that Senators in general are capable of reviewing themselves on a peer basis, just that they should be. And this guy should be (reviewed for competence is my point).
Dementia should be considered here.
Thanks for that update. Chuy needs to be judged like anyone else.
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