Webb aide's gun charge dropped by prosecutor

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star

Authorities dropped charges yesterday against an aide to Virginia Sen. Jim Webb who carried a loaded gun into the U.S. Capitol complex.

"After reviewing and analyzing all of the evidence in the case, we do not believe the essential elements of the crime of carrying a pistol without a license can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt," said U.S. Attorney Jeff Taylor, top prosecutor in the District of Columbia.

Webb senior aide Phillip Thompson, 45, of Stafford County, was arrested on March 26 after Capitol Police spotted the loaded pistol and two other loaded magazines in a briefcase being scanned by an X-ray machine at the entrance of the Russell Senate office building.



Read more: http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/042007/04282007/279797

[w4rma]

1. Very good. (nt)

[Kagemusha]

2. If that's a responsible reading of the law, well and good

Better than the other alternatives.

[sandnsea]

3. Above the law

I wonder if everyone will feel the same when Huckabee's charges are dropped.

What a load of hypocritical bullshit.

[frazzled]

4. Totally agree with you

I'd like to know what the reasonable doubt was: there was a gun and magazines in the briefcase. Not allowed in building. End of story.
You're right: when there is "reasonable doubt" about Huckabee's son, everyone will be squealing like little piglets. Goose, gander ... whatever.

[rodeodance]

6. at least give him a ticket marked STUPID

[Irreverend IX]

7. The aide didn't know what was in the briefcase.

It was Webb's gun and ammo, which members of Congress are allowed to carry in DC but peasants are not. There's no reason to put Webb's staff in prison for trying to return his property to him.

[noamnety]

5. I'm with you, too

must be nice to be royalty in this country. Meanwhile, black teens will continue to get jail time for shoving teachers.

[reggaehead]

8. Seems to me the precedent was set

when Lou Dobb's wife walked.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Too bad they won't be able to give this new stage of the story with the same

wild abandon they used when the aide was charged originally.

Some "DU'ers" surely made asses of themselves attempting to kick the bejesus outta Webb during that time in their highly treasured comments here.

[Ian David]

10. See also: Repuke Presidential Candidate Huckabee's son arrested with handgun at airport

Repuke Presidential Candidate Huckabee's son arrested with handgun at airport
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x781517

[jody]

11. Dropping charges proves politicians are not serious about enforcing gun laws. n/t

[billbuckhead]

12. This is despicable especially since the VT tragedy

[benEzra]

13. Same thing happened with one of Sen. Kennedy's staff some years ago...

when he brought two (presumably licensed) submachineguns and an unregistered-in-DC pistol into the Capitol building. AFAIK, the individual (Chuck Stein) was NOT charged, an outcome I agree with in both that case and Webb's case. That had nothing to do with VT, and neither does this; there was no criminal intent involved in either case.

[billbuckhead]

17. Can't help dissing Kennedy?

Why is that not surprising. Can't help yourself.?

[benEzra]

19. Kennedy didn't do a damn thing wrong, and neither did Webb...

their staff made honest mistakes, and the charges were dropped in both cases, as they should be.

If you read that as a slam on Sen. Kennedy, you misread me badly.

[VTMechEngr]

18. No reason to bring up VT

Pick something else to be your political wild card.

[ProudDad]

14. This is bullshit!

You think any regular human would be let off like this?

There is a 3 tier legal system. The connected and the rich get one brand of easy "justice", usually a wink and a nod.

Then there are two more tiers. The first is white people. Then the lowest tier is for people of color; they are given the privilege of filling the courtrooms, jails and prisons.

[rocktivity]

15. Well, since the Huckabee kid got a slap on the wrist, why not?

:evilgrin:
rocknation

[yellowcanine]

16. What fun! The Freepers can't decide whether to cry "coverup!" or to defend gun rights.

Result is much consternation and flailing about in the place known as Freeperland, Home of the Dismayed.



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