Posted on 10/24/2023 8:52:49 AM PDT by algore
A Washington state senator was arrested at Hong Kong Airport and faces up to 14 years in jail after discovering mid-flight he had brought his gun with him on the plane.
Longview Republican Jeff Wilson was flying with his wife Trisha to the Chinese city at the start of a five-week vacation in South-East Asia when he realized his mistake.
Reaching into his hand luggage for a 'piece of gum' he discovered the firearm in there as well which had also escaped the attention of security staff when he set off from Portland in Oregon.
'It was an honest mistake, and I expect the situation to be resolved shortly,' he wrote on his website.
But he was arrested on arrival in the repressive former colony, thrown into jail and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The senator, who was elected in 2020, denied reports that the weapon was discovered during a search on arrival, insisting he 'immediately went to customs officials and called their attention to the issue', at the end of the 15-hour flight.
He said the revolver was unloaded and is registered in Washington, where he holds a concealed carry license.
But he faces up to 14 years in one of Hong Kong's 'correctional facilities' and a fine of $12,800 for arriving with a firearm not registered in the Chinese territory.
Private ownership of guns is outlawed by the Chinese Communist Party in the tightly governed territory.
The city's Commissioner of Police only grants them to police officers, armed security guard services and operators of exclusive shooting range clubs.
Wilson has been a strong pro-gun advocate in his native state and sponsored a law this summer which made it easier for Washington's museums to obtain historic firearms without the need for background checks.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I agree.
If you do not know where your firearm is at all times, you should not have one.
You, like the state senator, are not responsible firearm owners.
People can’t find the hat that’s on their head, or they leave infants behind in their car. Forgetting there’s a gun in your bag is not that out of the question.
It would have been better for him to have dumped it in a trash can and scooted out of the country real quick. He may have thought being up front and honest would mitigate things for him but even the Chinese would have recognized him as a dummy for not handling his weapon responsibly. He forgot that it was in his carry on bag?...oh please! That’s third grade forgot my homework level thinking. The Chinese would legally right to punish this clown though I do hope they recognize in some fashion that he did report himself.
I think they scare him for a few months in jail..then deport him. He is a ranking politician in the states so they do have to go easy!
Mostly true, but in the hectic rush to get to the airport in heavy traffic under time pressure, it is easy to forget to take it out and put it in the glove compartment.
BINGO !!!
They make CCW Purses and from what I know about Women’s purses I would be afraid to have a Firearm somewhere inside of that danger zone. I recently got a CCW Purse for the Wife, the damned thing was $75.00 !!! I was informed later that was inexpensive for a purse😳 (see https://www.dooney.com/home)
I’m not changing My opinion on the subject. Failure to remember/know that one is in possession of a Firearm is no excuse. I don’t care if it’s the 1st time or the 20th time.
✅✅
That's the excuse he should have used- my Dog ate it ! (meaning his brain)...
1) not wear a hat.
2) not have children.
3) not be in possession of a Firearm.
Would you apply the same "logic" when it's applied to, let's say THE FOOTBALL ?
And here I thought that airport security was supposed to catch all of these “EVIL GUNS” before they could even get on an airplane!
What’s up with the TSA, to busy groping women and children?
Hell; pay attention when your in the USA, get caught with a gun in your bag by the TSA (not that they would probably catch it at all) while trying to board a plane and your going to jail, even here.
Of course they are. Their job is not security, it's intimidation. Making sure the proles know their place.
Gotta love the guy with Ma Deuce. He’ll have to gate check that; it won’t fit in the overhead bin.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.