Thursday, December 06, 2012

Anti-Gun Chicago Legislator Charged With Felony Gun Offense

State Sen. Donne Trotter after being released from a police lock-up (Chicago Tribune photo)
 
This should come as no surprise. A liberal Democratic state senator from Chicago who wants to limit other citizens' Second Amendment rights is caught trying to board a plane at O'Hare Airport with a loaded handgun. Sen. Donne Trotter, who is one of many seeking election to the congressional seat just vacated by Jesse Jackson, Jr., was preparing to board a plane from Chicago to Washington when TSA agents spotted a .25 caliber Beretta handgun in his garment bag. Trotter was charged with a felony under Illinois law and released from jail after posting a $25,000 bond. Do congressional candidates now need to be armed when they head to Washington to troll for campaign contributions?

Trotter as a state senator not only supported the state law he is accused of violating and against allowing Illinoisans to carry concealed weapons, but he also voted to elevate it a from a misdemeanor to a felony offense, along with his support of other anti-gun measures. "What you're doing here [is] just basically creating part-time police officers who have not gone through the extensive training, who have not had the psychological evaluations, who will be getting out there who feel now that they're--they are stronger, they are badder, they are tougher because they have this nine-shooter on their hip," Trotter said in opposition to concealed carry legislation. That all might make it a little more difficult for him to claim he didn't know about the law. Cook Co. State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, who has had her share of controversy recently, will have a tough time letting Trotter walk on the charge. She just charged a flight attendant with a felony offense after she tried to board a plane with a loaded .22 caliber handgun owned by her husband, who had inadvertently left it in her bag without her knowledge.

12 comments:

Diveboard Dave said...

What's that old cliche' about "Do as I say...?"

CircleCityScribe said...

Typical Democrat: The law applies to everyone else, but Democrats are exempt.

"Corruption is as Corruption does."
-The Democrat Machine

Pete Boggs said...

Hypo-crats

SW Lane said...

Who the hell carries a .25 for employment as a security guard? And why does a legislator moonlight with such a minimum wage job?
Answer: He doesnt. He should be removed from his seat pending the investigation.

Gary R. Welsh said...

He's probably armed because he lives in a part of Chicago (the south side) that experiences the greatest number of shootings. The streets there are not safe.

CircleCityScribe said...

I have a few more questions: Other than taking it to the airport, was he allowed to carry? Did he have a FOID? Was he licensed by the City? Is he a convicted felon?

Gary R. Welsh said...

It looks like he didn't have the proper license from the city of Chicago. He vows to stay in the race to succeed Jackson. Could they get any worse. They've had Gus Savage, who was forced out for inappropriate sexual behavior during a trip overseas, Mel Reynolds, a convicted child molester, and Jesse Jackson, Jr., a serial womanizer who is awaiting charges for misuse of campaign funds. Trotter's transgressions are relatively tame in comparison.

SW Lane said...

Gary, I wasn't saying he shouldnt carry, assuming e meets all the legal standards the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago demand. My point was that if he is violation of those laws, and hypocritical about it, he needs to go.

CircleCityScribe said...

Ohhhh, I remember Gus Savage! The Andre Carson of Chicago....

Carson is Our Fool on Capitol Hill, and Gus Savage was Chicago's.

-Gosh, the memories of Gus...

Gary R. Welsh said...

Good luck getting him to voluntarily resign his office. I think it's a stupid law to make it a felony for someone simply to possess a handgun they are otherwise legally obligated to carry. The same thing happened to Rep. John Hostetler at the airport in Louisville when he was in Congress. If you show up at the airport with one, inadvertently or otherwise, you forfeit it and go on your way. Don't charge people with a felony. Forfeiting ownership of the gun will teach people not to show up with it where you're not allowed to have one. They pull knives and other other objects that could be used as a weapon out of people's belongings all the time without charging them with a felony.

guy77money said...

Your on the money on the knife quote Gary, my uncle works for the St Louis airport and they confiscate hundreds of knives including large hunting and military knives. In the hands of a trained person they could cause as much damage as a gun.

Unknown said...

I think that is pronounced -


yous-uns can't and wes-uns can!