Webb's Irresponsible Gun Handling

Obviously I think Webb should have every right to carry a gun. Especially for self-protection. I don't have any issue with that. I do have issue with the fact that he was extremely careless in his care for his firearm.

A Congressional official briefed on the case said Monday that the aide told the police that Mr. Webb had given him the pistol as Mr. Webb was being dropped off at the airport, and that the aide had inadvertently taken the weapon with him to the Capitol complex, which has stepped up security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a 1998 episode in which a gunman killed two Capitol police officers.

But Mr. Webb said Tuesday that he “did not give the weapon to Phil Thompson.”

He said his aide “completely inadvertently took the weapon into the Senate yesterday” and that it probably had happened in the scramble among his staff members as they were preparing for a trip that Mr. Webb took to New Orleans on Friday.

“We had three cars on Friday that were being moved about because of my trip,” Mr. Webb said, “and that is probably a reason that this inadvertent situation developed.”

There's a responsible gun owner. He didn't know where his gun was and left it where anyone could access it if his aide had left the doors unlocked. Seeing as Thompson likely didn't even know the gun was in the car. Not only is that irresponsible gun ownership, but a damn nasty thing to do to a friend.

On the other side, Thompson was pretty stupid not to check the contents of the bag he was carrying prior to taking it into a security area. Having worked in security areas, I know you do a thorough inventory before trying to access the area. That ensures less jail time, especially when you're handling someone else's luggage.