Secret Service agent leaves gun on Romney's plane

[trailmonkee]

Source: AP

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A Secret Service agent left a gun in the bathroom of a plane carrying Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

A reporter discovered the gun while the plane was flying from Florida to Indiana on Wednesday. It was quickly retrieved by a Secret Service agent. The weapon belonged to an agent assigned to Romney's security detail.

In Washington, Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan says the agency is aware of the incident and that the matter will be handled internally. He would not discuss who left the gun or how it was misplaced.

The agent involved was not on the afternoon flight to Tampa, Fla., the site of the Republican National Convention. Romney is scheduled to accept the presidential nomination on Thursday.


Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-08-29/secret-service-agent-leaves-gun-on-romneys-plane

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What I want to know is WTF was this guy doing with his gun out in the bathroom???

[rfranklin]

1. I would have kept it...

What a cool souvenir!

[trailmonkee]

2. probably not a good idea....

walking off the plane waving a gun saying 'hey, look what i found'!

[flobee1]

5. as would I

You can be damn sure it was never used in a crime!

[railsback]

3. Poor agent

He's probably been on Romney detail for weeks now. That would dull anyone's senses.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. Depending on where and how it is holstered, you might need to remove it

to use a tiny goddamn airline toilet.

Otherwise you might risk it falling into the toilet.


Someone is getting remedial weapons retention training for the next few months, guarantee that.

[Aviation Pro]

6. And probably a dummy cord....

...break out the 550, agent, you're going back to school.

[PatrynXX]

9. maybe hes training

for the mile high club o_O so he put the gun off to the side so it wouldn't go over while he's jerking

[MADem]

13. I would not be surprised if the owner of that weapon has her walking papers already.

I'll bet she crapped yet again when she realized she'd lost the thing.

I don't think she'll be given a pass on this, or "retraining." I think she's done in that capacity. If she has enough time in, maybe they'll let her do scheduling or logistics, but I can't see her being counted on to perform responsibly on a detail ever again.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said on Wednesday that the "matter will be handled internally."

"We're aware of the incident," Donovan said. "We take the care and custody of our equipment, especially firearms, very seriously."

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/08/30/us-usa-campaign-romney-gun-idINBRE87T03020120830

UPDATED INFO-- TAMPA — A member of Mitt Romney’s Secret Service detail was removed today from a campaign trip after she accidentally left her firearm unattended in the candidate’s charter plane bathroom.
The agent in question left a gun unattended in the bathroom of the plane during a flight between Tampa and Indiana. The gun was found by a reporter on board who immediately informed the agent, who then went back into the bathroom and retrieved the weapon.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/secret-service-detail-leaves-gun-unattended-on-romneys-charter-flight/

[nahant]

7. OOPS!

Maybe he isn't really wanted as the republicans and this is the only way to get rid of him and claim Left wing anachronistic lies led to this... Oy Oy Oy Oy!!!

[Renew Deal]

8. Maybe he was polishing it

But more likely, it might have something to do with the weight when he is using the bowl.

[MADem]

14. Maybe SHE was polishing it. The agent was not male.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/secret-service-detail-leaves-gun-unattended-on-romneys-charter-flight/

[bluedigger]

10. Double secret probation for them.

That's probably going to leave a black mark on their Permanent Record.

[Lurks Often]

11. Trying to go to the bathroom

with a handgun in a holster on the right or left hip is awkward when standing and even more difficult when seated.

It doesn't excuse the agent leaving the gun in the bathroom, but I strongly doubt that he/she was in the bath in a reckless manner (other then leaving it there I mean).

[Historic NY]

12. Oops.......the jobs not over until the paper work is complete...

HTH do you forget to get your gun.

[Kennah]

15. There are times when I've used a public restroom ...

... and if I am carrying holstered I remove the gun and lay it inside my pants. Makes it close to impossible to leave it behind.

[Kennah]

16. Perhaps I am a bit twisted ...

... but reading "A Secret Service agent left a gun in the bathroom of a plane carrying Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney" one might perhaps conclude that Mittens bought a ticket in Bathroom Class.

[Doug.Goodall]

17. The way Republicans love guns, you would think they would be all over the plane

The pro-gun Republicans would be uncomfortable without a gun behind every seat.

[truthisfreedom]

18. Bored.

I would be.