Webb aide arrested with gun at Senate office

[KeithPA]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An aide to Sen. Jim Webb, D-Virginia, was arrested Monday morning with a gun at the Russell Senate Office Building, according to Capitol Hill Police.

Webb's office identified the employee as Phillip Thompson. A statement from Capitol Police Sgt. Kimberly Schneider indicated an X-ray machine spotted "a loaded pistol with two fully loaded magazines" when Thompson entered the building shortly before 11 a.m.

"It was determined that he did not have a license to carry a pistol in the District of Columbia," Schneider said. "He was in possession of an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition. He was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with carrying a pistol without a license, unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition."

Details from Webb's office were sketchy. In a written statement, Webb communications director Jessica Smith said, "To our knowledge, this incident was an oversight by the senator's aide. Phillip Thompson is a former Marine and is a long-term trusted employee of the senator. We are still awaiting the facts."

A congressional official who has been briefed on the incident by law enforcement told CNN that the handgun belonged to the senator. Thompson was driving Webb to a Washington-area airport, located in Virginia, earlier Monday morning, the official said, when Webb remembered that he had the gun on him. It is legal to carry a concealed handgun in Virginia.

He gave the weapon to Thompson, the official said, and asked him to take care of it. Thompson subsequently put the gun in a briefcase and returned to Capitol Hill where "he spaced, he literally forgot" that he had the gun, the official said.

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/po...at-senate.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/4662783.html


Always good to see a Democratic senator carries a gun

[dmg1969]

I heard a teaser about this on Fox News this morning, but left the house before the story ran. The beginning of the story had me thinking that this guy was a real dope. However, hearing that the aide was taking care of the gun for his boss seems plausible. Why else would he go through an x-ray machine with it? Have to wait and see how this one pans out.

Dave G.

[D-FENS]

We all know if it was one of us we'd be sitting in jail for the next 5-10 years. I highly doubt anything will come of this but it sure as hell puts the Congressman in a funny position when gun legislation comes up.

[billamj]

What I am really interested in finding out after this little episode is how many of those fine folks in the Senate or House, people like Kennedy, Schumer, Clinton, Feinstein, Boxer and the like, are "legally" packing? Wouldn't if just be a hoot to be able to point out to their constituents that while they carry themselves, they don't want their constituents to be able to?

[TravisBickle]

Originally Posted by billamj

What I am really interested in finding out after this little episode is how many of those fine folks in the Senate or House, people like Kennedy, Schumer, Clinton, Feinstein, Boxer and the like, are "legally" packing? Wouldn't if just be a hoot to be able to point out to their constituents that while they carry themselves, they don't want their constituents to be able to?

It is widely known that DiFi had a concealed carry permit years ago, even as she was pressing for strict gun controls. Her explaination: she had to protect herself from all the "gun wackos".

[sams819]

jim webb a democrat went on tv and when interviewed, said that it was his weapon and that the aid forgot it was in the carry bag. he also said he was for the right to carry and the second admendment, although prior to this incident, he was mum on gun control. if you see the interview you can tell he was side stepping and stuttering as he tried to cover his butt, and not inrage his voters. funny it was on the news for about 40 seconds total, then just dissappeared. just think of the coverage if this was a republican senator. 24/7 for the next 3 months, a call for resignation, tar and feathers, hangings, and what ever else they can throw on the wall and make stick..