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Police detain McAllen senator [Texas]
The Monitor ^ | October 11,2005 | Cari Hammerstrom

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 McAllen’s 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 TSA’s 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 Hinojosa’s 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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: chuy
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"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."

LOL! We need to invent malicious intent detectors, Chuy!

1 posted on 10/11/2005 9:25:39 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
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To: SwinneySwitch

"he simply forgot he had placed the gun in his carry-on baggage"

RRRRRiiiigggghhhhhttttt!!!!! (sarc)


2 posted on 10/11/2005 9:27:39 AM PDT by lilylangtree
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To: SwinneySwitch

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.


3 posted on 10/11/2005 9:30:37 AM PDT by ssaftler
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To: SwinneySwitch

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.


4 posted on 10/11/2005 9:34:55 AM PDT by for-q-clinton (If at first you don't succeed keep on sucking until you do succeed)
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To: SwinneySwitch

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?

Caller-Times

5 posted on 10/11/2005 9:36:52 AM PDT by texianyankee
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To: for-q-clinton
"Yeah, it's stupid and you should know where your firearms are; however, it's not a huge deal."

If you are a state senator. If you are an ordinary citizen it is a 10,000 fine and criminal prosecution.
6 posted on 10/11/2005 9:40:49 AM PDT by monday
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To: SwinneySwitch
Being a dumba$$ is not against Federal law... but there could be a state law in Texas... I think the idiots who put him in office should be prosecuted
7 posted on 10/11/2005 9:53:36 AM PDT by Pointblank
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: ssaftler
"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."

Nah.. the senator has a "d" by his name.

9 posted on 10/11/2005 9:56:34 AM PDT by monkapotamus
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To: monkapotamus
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!

10 posted on 10/11/2005 9:59:08 AM PDT by ssaftler
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To: lrb111; Bedford Forrest; MaryD; leapfrog0202; Squantos; BIRDS; Keith59; janetgreen; vrwc0915; ...

Senator Chuy Ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.


11 posted on 10/11/2005 10:12:02 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch (Terroristas-beyond your expectations!)
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To: SwinneySwitch

"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


12 posted on 10/11/2005 10:23:31 AM PDT by rustyncrusty (Where liberty dwells, there is my country. - Ben Franklin)
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To: George_Bailey

Rules are for thee, not for me.


13 posted on 10/11/2005 10:48:18 AM PDT by printhead
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To: SwinneySwitch

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.


14 posted on 10/11/2005 11:07:21 AM PDT by Americanexpat (A strong democracy through citizen oversight.)
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To: SwinneySwitch

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


15 posted on 10/11/2005 1:01:44 PM PDT by BIRDS
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To: lilylangtree

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.


16 posted on 10/11/2005 1:04:03 PM PDT by BIRDS
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To: for-q-clinton

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).


17 posted on 10/11/2005 1:07:59 PM PDT by BIRDS
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To: texianyankee

Dementia should be considered here.


18 posted on 10/11/2005 1:08:55 PM PDT by BIRDS
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To: SwinneySwitch
Local news tonight showing McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez saying the judge basically dismissed their case by releasing Hinojosa with no penalty. Rodriguez is calling in the FBI to continue the investigation.
----

Victor Rodriguez used to work in my county. I don't know him personally, but I've watched him work over the years. I believe him to be an honest hardworking lawman. That can be rare in this part of the country. Our previous sheriff left office when he went to jail.
19 posted on 10/11/2005 8:25:14 PM PDT by RGVTx
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To: RGVTx

Thanks for that update. Chuy needs to be judged like anyone else.


20 posted on 10/11/2005 8:56:24 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (+/-)
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