Don't be so quick to castigate Senator Trotter (O'Hare Airport .25 auto)

[Templar223]

Introduction by John Boch

(Guns Save Life) - Senator Trotter made a mistake forgetting about a gun in his carry-on. Yeah, he gamed the system a little bit. The gun in his carry-on was an oversight that frankly, could happen to any of us.

But Anita Alvarez let him sit in the can for 30-hours after his arrest.

You think that’s gonna engender a lot of love for Anita’s legislative efforts on guns, now that he’s tasted what the average Joe sometimes gets to endure?

Sure, he’s been anti-gun in the past.

Today, in his new district, he’s “moderated” his position – in part because his district is a good deal more conservative that it used to be AND because of grassroots pro-gun activists like those of us at Guns Save Life holding his feet to the fire.

If voters holding his feet to the fire gets us another pro-right-to-carry vote (and a vote to over-ride Quinn’s amendatory veto to ban America’s favorite rifle), then by golly, chill out folks. That’s a win.

Let’s not cannibalize an ally here.

Todd Vandermyde writes a very interesting piece. You don’t have to agree with him, but you would be wise to respect his analysis.



Read the NRA's guy in IL, Todd Vandermyde's take

http://www.gunssavelife.com/?p=3844


If someone wants to reprint the whole thing here, consider this permission to reprint.

John

 

[C0untZer0]

I read Todd's article, and Trotter's problem is going to be the media - not a few thousand angry forum members who post on Illinoiscarry.com, her and elsewhere.

And as much as Alverez may have alienated him by letting him sit overnight in jail - she could also procure a dependable anti-gun vote for all future gun bills for Madigan and Cullerton by making Trotter's case go away.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Ally? Not quite yet. May come around beyond his current seat saving concessions in the future, but ally?

 

[M-Cameron]

i honestly dont care that hes pro/anti gun......

to me its about the fact that politicians are legally treated the same as every other citizen.

I dont care if its Ron Paul or Hillary Clinton.....if you break the law, you go to jail, and then you get to go to court like the rest of us.

 

[472x1A/B]

Folks I don't post much here ok? But come on John, do you really think that holding this clowns feet to the 'fire' is going to make things right/happen here in Illinois? Sorry, but I think you're dreaming the FORWARD dream. Nothing will come of this and he will probably just get 6 months probation, them move FORWARD. And we will hear nothing more ever.

 

[homatok]

Obviously, being from Canada, I do not have a dog in this fight---BUT---at best this guy is a hippocryte! Not someone I would want representing me if he were in my area.

 

[rodinal220]

Lets see if he gets off because he is connected to the machine and the flight attendant gets the short end of the stick.

 

[fanchisimo]

I think this is a case of where "live by the sword, die by the sword" comes to mind. If Senator Trotter has been lenient on people in the past that have made mistakes, gun or otherwise, then I think he deserves leniency. If however, he has crucified people for political/personal reasons that have made a mistake, then he should be given the same treatment. I hope that, either way, in the future he will display humility as he has been there himself. Then again, I believe that politicians more often then not will forgo what's right to walk along their party lines.

 

[Trent]

The dude has been anti-gun since the 80's, co-sponsored every piece of legislature that's ever had to do with restricting firearms rights.

Let him sit in prison a couple of years.

 

[Trueno]

Obviously, being from Canada, I do not have a dog in this fight---BUT---at best this guy is a hippocryte! Not someone I would want representing me if he were in my area.

"Hypocrite" is putting it mildly, same thing as Diane Feinstein of California having a permit unattainable by lesser animals.

To the OP - the ink on Trotters' release papers isn't even dry yet...before you put Trotter on a pedestal, let's hear what he has to say.


As a matter of fact, what HAS he had to say?

t

 

[Onmilo]

Funny how peoples positions "Moderate" when they get caught up violating ridiculous laws!
"Whaddaya mean it's a FELONY! I only had a couple grams of weed on me!!!"

 

[FROGO207]

They should add a charge or two for carrying anything smaller than 9MM at the least IMHO.

Seriously lets see what HE says about it. I am in the camp that this will disappear with little or no fanfare.

 

[SunnySlopes]

Nah, I still don't like politicians.

A guy was in Washington and asked someone, “What do you think about these politicians?” The person answered, “Y,y,you ought t,t,to th,th,throw the whole b,b,bunch of th,th,them in th,th,the r,r,river.” The guy said, “That’s easy for you to say!”

 

[scaatylobo]

Remember this one

Ted Kennedy [ yea HIM ] was in Washington DC [ THE anti-gun capital of the free world ] and his 'bodyguard' was found to be in possession of handguns,full auto weapons and ammo = and he was NOT allowed these anymore than a citizen was.

bet you know how that turned out.

There have been too many cases of the liberals and Democrats that profess anti-gun rhetoric ,found to possess guns and yes even handguns.

The difference is to them,its do as I say and not as I do.

 

[JohnBT]

I recall that, it was funny. He tried to check an Uzi and a Beretta at the Capitol. "Hi, would you hold my machine pistols." John

January 15, 1986|By United Press International

WASHINGTON — Sen. Edward Kennedy's private bodyguard, hired for a trip to South America, was arrested last week when he arrived at the Capitol with two submachine guns and ammunition, officials said Tuesday.

The bodyguard was identified as Charles Stein, 47, a former police officer in San Fernando, Calif., who has worked for the Massachusetts Democrat in the past, providing security on overseas trips. He was released on his own recognizance after appearing in court.

 

[Texan Scott]

They're gonna castigate him? I knew chicagoland gun law was strict, but I didn't know it was a neutering offense!

Kidding... actually, I'm told a castigus was a Roman cat 'o nine tails with shards of bone or metal woven in. Still seems a bit harsh.

I'm a Texan, so my vote carries no weight, but a politician who breaks the laws he endorses for the common man because he apparently feels himself above both the law and the people sounds like precisely the kind of arrogant hypocrite that ought to replace ... n/m.

 

[stickhauler]

I might even buy into the argument to cut the guy some slack, if not for the lame excuse his lawyer offered. It's claimed he had just got off work at his "other" job as a security guard.

Now, I'll admit, I've seen a variety of firearms used by private security company guards. But a .25ACP? Come on! What, couldn't he find his sharp stick to carry when he went on duty?

I'm in Chicago on a somewhat regular basis, and deal with security guards who are simply guarding a plant entrance, and they're packing a minimum of a 9 mm. And that's their FULL TIME job, they ain't drawing a senator's salary in addition to their pay.

I have to go through security on a regular basis where they key onto making sure you're not armed. I go into Canada on a weekly basis, and they're real strict about anyone carrying even a tactical sized knife. Yet somehow I've been able to remember to not have prohibited weapons in my possession all these years.

He deserves to take the fall for his actions, yet I'm pretty sure he'll get squat in punishment. And reaffirm the beliefs of the citizens who see that those who have power don't have to follow the rules us mere mortals do.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Senator Trotter made a mistake forgetting about a gun in his carry-on. Yeah, he gamed the system a little bit. The gun in his carry-on was an oversight that frankly, could happen to any of us.

No, it could not happen to any of us.

This excuse always reminds me of Steve Martin's skit about "You can be a millionare...and never pay taxes!" http://snltranscripts.jt.org/77/77imono.phtml

Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: "I forgot!" How many times do we let ourselves get into terrible situations because we don't say "I forgot"? Let's say you're on trial for armed robbery. You say to the judge, "I forgot armed robbery was illegal."

It is a lame excuse in Martin's 1978 skit and it is a lame one now.

So we should not be so quick to castigate Trotter because he is a moderate? Fair enough. However, I thought he should be castigated for being an idiot. When fellow gun owners are not responsible enough to handle their guns properly, then maybe some felony conviction intervention will help make them more responsible and safer.

If he is a moderate, maybe somebody can remind me on when he has voted for guns and in support of gun issues. I was looking up his voting record and I don't seem to be able to find anything of the sort.

Todd Vandermyde's comments are just an NRA cop-out. From the OP's link http://www.gunssavelife.com/?p=3844

Donnie Trotter is a friend. But I know that but for the grace of God, in my haste on a trip someday, I could be sitting where he is today. And I would want the same opportunity not to have my life ruined because I made a mistake.

Sorry Tood, but the "I forgot" and "I made a mistake when I committed this felony" are not valid legal excuses. Such "mistakes" of responsibility have consequences and that is why it is so important to be aware of what you are doing. Being a gun owner isn't a free pass for breaking the law.

 

[EddieNFL]

Today, in his new district, he’s “moderated” his position – in part because his district is a good deal more conservative that it used to be AND because of grassroots pro-gun activists like those of us at Guns Save Life holding his feet to the fire.

SYNOPSIS: He will take whatever path leads to re-election, so trust him.

 

[breakingcontact]

The laws aren't for the economic or political elite.

 

[vito]

He only got into trouble because he was in a federally regulated area, the airport. Despite the reality that Illinois has no concealed carry law, it is common knowledge that city council members in Chicago are permitted to carry a concealed handgun. The fact that it is as illegal for a council member as it is for the rest of us does not change anything. In addition to finding it hard to believe that he really worked as a security guard the night before (a security guard who carries a tiny 25acp?), I find it hard to beleive he "forgot" it was with him. I think he just forgot that being an Illinois elected official wouldn't make him immune to the rules of the TSA; he likely assumed he would get a pass on this as he would with local police officials. Maybe if he actually gets jail time it will help bring some sanity to the concealed carry situation here in this dysfunctional and corrupt state.

 

[Alnamvet68]

While I do not wish to see the "good" senator pilloried, my only wish is that he receive the exact fair and balanced "justice" that I or anyone else will most assuredly receive if it was I or anyone else who committed the exact same infraction; no more and no less.

 

[comus3]

Ted Kennedy had a Capitol Police security detail.

 

[mac66]

There needs to be a sense of karma about this. If the gods were just, this guy would be convicted of a felony, lose his rights to own guns, lose his job and not be able to run for public office anymore.

 

[barnbwt]

In addition to finding it hard to believe that he really worked as a security guard the night before (a security guard who carries a tiny 25acp?)

Rather interesting links in a cursory Google search on this guy's "security job"...namely how much he's being paid, and said firm's political connections

This Sun article has a good summary:
Arrest raises questions on Trotter’s job at security firm with city deal

I must say, Chicago's leadership is doing a heck of job landing itself in jail, these days!

TCB