Posted on 02/27/2008 12:31:40 PM PST by rogue yam
Fellow FReepers, please forgive this, my first-ever vanity post. I am seeking advice for my friend who was arrested at Spokane Airport for going through airport security with a handgun in his carry-on bag.
Background: My friend is a responsible, married, small business owner with absolutely no criminal background. He has a valid Washington State concealed carry permit. On the day of his arrest he had been doing some business requiring him to carry cash, so he had also carried (in a small carry bag) a handgun for personal security. He went home and then went to the Spokane Airport to take a short in-state flight for a business trip. Unfortunately he simply forgot to remove his handgun from his carry bag so when he went through security at the airport and he ran his bag through the x-ray machine, the gun was discovered leading to his arrest.
The Airport Police were very reasonable and low-key and he was on his way in twenty minutes (minus his handgun, of course) but my friend is now charged with a Washington State criminal violation, RCW9.41.300, for carrying his handgun into a restricted area.
So here's the reason for my post: My friend is fairly new to that area and does not have local contacts with regard to legal advice, etc. Also, he has never had to deal with anything like this before. He called me to ask for advice as to whether he should plead guilty and/or whether and how he should seek legal representation in this matter.
We both searched for Washington State gun rights contacts and I told him I would post this request for information here on FR.
If any FReepers, and in particular Eastern Washington FReepers, have any suggestions or relevant experience regarding how my friend should proceed to resolve this honest mistake with no criminal intent, I would very much appreciate hearing from you either on this thread or by FReepmail.
Thank you all.
- rogue yam
Get a good lawyer....
(I know, stating the obvious, but it’s the CORRECT thing to do)
He should hire a good attorney. There's not much any FReepers can do at this point.
Dave, Is this something you could help him with?
Your friend needs a local Washington State lawyer with criminal defense experience, and he needs to follow that lawyer’s advice— no one else’s.
Might send a post over at thehighroad.org as well. If nothing else someone in the area might be able to point out a good lawyer.
Firearms-related information requested.
He’s screwed.
Take your time mounting a legitimate and unemotional defense...
"No railraoding" by the TSa or anyone else...
For the record...
He should NOT have had the weapon on him....
In any case...
JMHO
Your friend will have to answer the charges, and most likely after the eveidence is presented, will get probation.
The judgement will center around 'intent'.
He will need legal representation to plead the charge down to a lesser crime so it doesn't affect his legal ability to carry.
Washington State criminal violation, RCW9.41.300, for carrying his handgun into a restricted area.
He violated the law and unfortunately this law sticks!
Pardon, but I wouldn’t go before the court on a speeding ticket without a lawyer.
Hire the best lawyer who specializes in these types of cases. This is very important. DO NOT just hire Joe Blow from the phone book.
Good luck to your friend.
Thanks for the tip.
Methinks your friend is about to pay a severe penalty for his complacency.
Like others have said, he should find a good 2nd Amendment-supporting lawyer in the jurisdiction where he is charged, and engage that lawyer’s services.
This was a stupid mistake that unless he is very, very careful *could* snowball into charges that will permanently remove his right to even *own* a firearm.
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