Update--Jim Webb's Aide (merged with original thread) - Page 4

Musketeer · April 28th, 2007, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goawayfarm

Looks like the aid will NOT be prosecuted. Prosecutor says not enough evidence to prove their case.

Excuse me... he carried a bag in his possesion with a loaded handgun through a security checkpoint in the US Capitol.

How would this be handled for anyone else?

Mind you I do not think he should be charged because I think the prosecutor needs to consider intent of the person and the law. Unfortunately when it is Jonh Q. Public the prosecutor only sees an easy conviction and notch in his briefcase.

SIGguy229 · April 28th, 2007, 05:45 PM

http://www.nbc4.com/news/13213059/de...=headlineclick

Federal prosecutors will not prosecute an aide to Virginia U.S. Sen. Jim Webb for trying to take a gun that was in a handbag into a Senate office building last month, according to NBC News correspondent Pete Williams.

The aide, Phillip Thompson, 45, carried a gun into the Russell Senate Office Building in late March.

Thompson was arrested after an officer stationed at an X-ray machine allegedly saw a 9 mm handgun in a bag he was trying to take into the building. Authorities said they also found two additional fully loaded magazines.

Thompson, a former Marine, said he didn't know the gun was in a bag he was carrying for his boss.

"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 Jeffrey Taylor, the U.S. attorney for Washington. [WOW]

The decision means the case is closed and that Webb will not face any further official questions about it.

"As I said at the time when this incident occurred, Phillip Thompson is a trusted aide and a fine man," Webb said in a statement. "I have great confidence in him. As I also said at the time, I believe that this incident was an inadvertent oversight and I am pleased that the authorities in the District of Columbia have now reached that same conclusion. I'm happy that Phillip and his family can now put this incident behind them."

Thompson did not have a license to carry the gun in D.C., according to Capitol police. It is illegal to carry handguns in the District.

Thompson told police that it was Webb's gun and that he inadvertently left it in his case after safekeeping it for Webb a few days before.

"It is no secret that I support the Second Amendment and have a concealed weapons permit for my self-defense," Webb said after the incident.

Webb also said that he has never brought a gun to the Capitol and that he did not give the gun to Thompson. [WT..?--then how did he get the gun?]

The Russell Senate Office Building is located across Constitution Avenue from the Capitol. Many congressmen and congresswomen have offices there.

<break> <break>

Gee...anyone else want to try this?

rodc13 · April 28th, 2007, 06:02 PM

Glad to hear it turned out like this.

falcon1 · April 28th, 2007, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIGguy229

Gee...anyone else want to try this?

No, thanks...I'll pass.

peacefuljeffrey · April 28th, 2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverkeeper

Let's see:
At the AIRPORT some miles away Webb gives his handgun to the aide to take care of it.

The AIDE forgets about it and attempts to take it into the Senate building -- something HE is not authorized to do apparently.

Now WHY is the SENATOR in any way responsible for the AIDE's mistake?

Webb is good to go on individual handgun carry rights.

Um, if he gave a gun in a bag to someone he knew did not have the legal right to carry it or possess it (as the aide does not, in D.C.) then didn't he knowingly provide a firearm to a prohibited person?

Now as far as this: "I value the opportunity to be able to protect myself, depending on situations," I just have to ask, what are the situations in which you don't value being able to protect yourself, senator? Are there times, truly, when you would not mind being harmed or killed, and those times are when you don't mind being prohibited from carrying a handgun?

peacefuljeffrey · April 28th, 2007, 11:27 PM

More of the same lies and crap we always get from politicians.

The aide had the senator's gun, was FOUND with the gun and arrested, but somehow the prosecutors would not be able to prove he was in possession of it? Howzat?!

Wasn't the gun taken as evidence?! What's the supposed difficulty in proving that the person from whom the police took the gun, possessed the gun?! This is MADNESS!!

Somehow the senator gets to pretend that he didn't give the gun to the aide, too? This is like someone being convicted of taking a bribe that the other person is acquitted of having made. Absolute fraud.

As many have said, if this were you or me, we'd be sitting in jail in D.C. right now. The aide's defense seems to be ignorance of the law. Great. I thought that wasn't supposed to be an excuse.

Scott · April 29th, 2007, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peacefuljeffrey

Um, if he gave a gun in a bag to someone he knew did not have the legal right to carry it or possess it (as the aide does not, in D.C.) then didn't he knowingly provide a firearm to a prohibited person?

Now as far as this: "I value the opportunity to be able to protect myself, depending on situations," I just have to ask, what are the situations in which you don't value being able to protect yourself, senator? Are there times, truly, when you would not mind being harmed or killed, and those times are when you don't mind being prohibited from carrying a handgun?

There are no airports in DC anymore. Since Webb is from Virginia we have to assume he was at one of the two airports in Virginia, Reagan National or Washington Dulles, when he gave the handgun to his aide. It would have been legal for Webb to give his aide the handgun while in Virginia.

As for the rest of it. Welcome to a glimpse of the wonderful world around Washington DC. Sort of like Never Never Land, where almost anything is possible. Is it right? No. Does that change it? No.

ccw9mm · April 29th, 2007, 09:06 AM

Quote:

"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 Jeffrey Taylor, the U.S. attorney for Washington.

Hm. He had a firearm. He was found with it. Beyond any doubt, that happened. He admitted he had it and why. Heck, the "catching" of him with it was probably even on film. Can't imagine what questions remain on that score. What would the "essential elements" be for a common Joe? The above, any day of the week.

Privilege versus Rights. Perfect example of the twisted, non-sensical mentality of those holding elected public office. And they wonder why they're hated and mistrusted. They'd simply be silly twits, if it weren't for the fact they hold power over our necks by virtue of holding those offices.

peacefuljeffrey · April 30th, 2007, 12:20 AM

I don't think they wonder why they're hated and mistrusted. I don't think they even care a whit. They still drive $100,000 cars and live in $5,000,000 mansions, eat the best food at the best restaurants, etc. What do they have to care what we think of them for?

April 28th, 2007, 05:45 PM	#32
SIGguy229 VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,004	Update--Jim Webb's Aide (merged with original thread) http://www.nbc4.com/news/13213059/de...=headlineclick Federal prosecutors will not prosecute an aide to Virginia U.S. Sen. Jim Webb for trying to take a gun that was in a handbag into a Senate office building last month, according to NBC News correspondent Pete Williams. The aide, Phillip Thompson, 45, carried a gun into the Russell Senate Office Building in late March. Thompson was arrested after an officer stationed at an X-ray machine allegedly saw a 9 mm handgun in a bag he was trying to take into the building. Authorities said they also found two additional fully loaded magazines. Thompson, a former Marine, said he didn't know the gun was in a bag he was carrying for his boss. "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 Jeffrey Taylor, the U.S. attorney for Washington. [WOW] The decision means the case is closed and that Webb will not face any further official questions about it. "As I said at the time when this incident occurred, Phillip Thompson is a trusted aide and a fine man," Webb said in a statement. "I have great confidence in him. As I also said at the time, I believe that this incident was an inadvertent oversight and I am pleased that the authorities in the District of Columbia have now reached that same conclusion. I'm happy that Phillip and his family can now put this incident behind them." Thompson did not have a license to carry the gun in D.C., according to Capitol police. It is illegal to carry handguns in the District. Thompson told police that it was Webb's gun and that he inadvertently left it in his case after safekeeping it for Webb a few days before. "It is no secret that I support the Second Amendment and have a concealed weapons permit for my self-defense," Webb said after the incident. Webb also said that he has never brought a gun to the Capitol and that he did not give the gun to Thompson. [WT..?--then how did he get the gun?] The Russell Senate Office Building is located across Constitution Avenue from the Capitol. Many congressmen and congresswomen have offices there. <break> <break> Gee...anyone else want to try this?

April 28th, 2007, 06:02 PM	#33
rodc13 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 2,396	Glad to hear it turned out like this. __________________ Cheers, Rod "We're paratroopers. We're supposed to be surrounded!" Dick Winters

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April 28th, 2007, 11:27 PM	#36
peacefuljeffrey VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: south Florida Posts: 3,169	More of the same lies and crap we always get from politicians. The aide had the senator's gun, was FOUND with the gun and arrested, but somehow the prosecutors would not be able to prove he was in possession of it? Howzat?! Wasn't the gun taken as evidence?! What's the supposed difficulty in proving that the person from whom the police took the gun, possessed the gun?! This is MADNESS!! Somehow the senator gets to pretend that he didn't give the gun to the aide, too? This is like someone being convicted of taking a bribe that the other person is acquitted of having made. Absolute fraud. As many have said, if this were you or me, we'd be sitting in jail in D.C. right now. The aide's defense seems to be ignorance of the law. Great. I thought that wasn't supposed to be an excuse.

April 30th, 2007, 12:20 AM	#39
peacefuljeffrey VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: south Florida Posts: 3,169	I don't think they wonder why they're hated and mistrusted. I don't think they even care a whit. They still drive $100,000 cars and live in $5,000,000 mansions, eat the best food at the best restaurants, etc. What do they have to care what we think of them for?