# Ex-Mississippi Gov. and RNC chairman Haley Barbour arrested with gun at airport **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 31, 2018, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856 "2018-01-31T02:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/21 "2018-01-31T15:49:59Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > It’s like the old Steve Martin joke about “I forgot armed robbery was illegal.” How the hell do you “forget” that you have a gun in your briefcase? And yeah, I’m sure if he wasn’t white (and Republican) it would have gone down a heck of a lot differently than “confiscate the gun, let him board the plane anyway.” Same way people forget about pocket knives or other contraband items. Happens all the time at airports all across the country. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/22 "2018-01-31T16:46:41Z")
What good is your Concealed Carry weapon against the Bad Guys if you forget you even have it? ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/23 "2018-01-31T16:56:54Z")
HD is right on here. It is really not that unusual for firearms to be confiscated by TSA. From the Denver Post… [TSA confiscated nearly 4,000 guns at airport checkpoints in 2017 — and DIA was among the top 10 airports where firearms were found](https://www.denverpost.com/2018/01/30/tsa-guns-confiscated-2017/) And it’s not just firearms… > [@](#): > > The suicide vest mentioned earlier is one example. The traveler, officials said, worked as a contractor dealing with explosive ordnance disposal, and the items were used as training aids. In another case, a military instructor said he “forgot” his carry-on bag contained inert explosives. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/24 "2018-01-31T17:07:25Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > What good is your Concealed Carry weapon against the Bad Guys if you forget you even have it? Not everyone forgets, but with maybe ~16 or 17 million CCW permit holders across the country, it’s inevitable that some small % of them will forget and show up at the airport with a gun. I wish they wouldn’t, but it happens, and the usual punishment is fairly minor. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/25 "2018-01-31T17:07:33Z")
Just like everyone else? [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-bwi-guns-20180128-story.html](http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-bwi-guns-20180128-story.html) [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-guns-airport-20171226-story.html](http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-guns-airport-20171226-story.html) [https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/12/05/virginia-man-gun-arrested-richmond-international-airport-after-tsa-spots](https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/12/05/virginia-man-gun-arrested-richmond-international-airport-after-tsa-spots) [https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/11/30/pennsylvania-man-arrested-newark-airport-after-tsa-catches-him-gun](https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/11/30/pennsylvania-man-arrested-newark-airport-after-tsa-catches-him-gun) > **[Lawmaker says she accidentally brought gun to Denver airport](https://www.foxnews.com/travel/lawmaker-says-she-accidentally-brought-gun-to-denver-airport)** > > A Colorado state lawmaker arrested for having a gun at Denver International Airport had a loaded handgun in her bag that was discovered by an airport security officer, police said Wednesday. [http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/2017-12-29/harlem-woman-arrested-connection-gun-found-augusta-regional-airport](http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/2017-12-29/harlem-woman-arrested-connection-gun-found-augusta-regional-airport) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/26 "2018-01-31T17:17:49Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Just like everyone else? > > [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-bwi-guns-20180128-story.html](http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-bwi-guns-20180128-story.html) > > [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-guns-airport-20171226-story.html](http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-guns-airport-20171226-story.html) > > [https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/12/05/virginia-man-gun-arrested-richmond-international-airport-after-tsa-spots](https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/12/05/virginia-man-gun-arrested-richmond-international-airport-after-tsa-spots) > > [https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/11/30/pennsylvania-man-arrested-newark-airport-after-tsa-catches-him-gun](https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/11/30/pennsylvania-man-arrested-newark-airport-after-tsa-catches-him-gun) > > [Lawmaker says she accidentally brought gun to Denver airport | Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2017/12/06/police-gun-brought-by-lawmaker-to-denver-airport-was-loaded.html) > > [http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/2017-12-29/harlem-woman-arrested-connection-gun-found-augusta-regional-airport](http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/2017-12-29/harlem-woman-arrested-connection-gun-found-augusta-regional-airport) See, now that’s more in line with how I thought this was supposed to happen. You bring a gun to airport and try to get on a plane with it, you get arrested. Do we have any other stories of people just handing the gun over and then being allowed on the flight? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/27 "2018-01-31T17:28:04Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Just like everyone else? > > [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-bwi-guns-20180128-story.html](http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-bwi-guns-20180128-story.html) > > [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-guns-airport-20171226-story.html](http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-guns-airport-20171226-story.html) > > [https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/12/05/virginia-man-gun-arrested-richmond-international-airport-after-tsa-spots](https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/12/05/virginia-man-gun-arrested-richmond-international-airport-after-tsa-spots) > > [https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/11/30/pennsylvania-man-arrested-newark-airport-after-tsa-catches-him-gun](https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/11/30/pennsylvania-man-arrested-newark-airport-after-tsa-catches-him-gun) > > [Lawmaker says she accidentally brought gun to Denver airport | Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2017/12/06/police-gun-brought-by-lawmaker-to-denver-airport-was-loaded.html) > > [http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/2017-12-29/harlem-woman-arrested-connection-gun-found-augusta-regional-airport](http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/2017-12-29/harlem-woman-arrested-connection-gun-found-augusta-regional-airport) I’d expect harsher treatment in places like Maryland, New Jersey, New York, California, Washington DC, etc. [TSA’s list of fines](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement) is a bit interesting. They’d find people $1,960-$3,920 for possession of a silencer, all by itself. It’s just a metal tube. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/28 "2018-01-31T17:36:57Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > See, now that’s more in line with how I thought this was supposed to happen. You bring a gun to airport and try to get on a plane with it, you get arrested. Do we have any other stories of people just handing the gun over and then being allowed on the flight? Here’s what the TSA website says: > [@](#): > > A notice of violation does not make any criminal charges against you; it is only a civil (non-criminal) monetary penalty for a regulatory violation. Any criminal action taken as a result of an incident would be handled separately by criminal prosecutors, and through separate notification. **TSA does not decide which cases will be charged criminally**. That’s a decision for the local police / prosecutors. In places that really hate guns, they probably choose to arrest & prosecute more. In places that don’t really mind guns, probably less. If they decide not to arrest, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be permitted to board your flight. semi-personal story: several years ago my brother forgot about a loaded spare magazine he had in his bag. He took it through the TSA checkpoint and got caught. They seized the ammo, but allowed him to mail the magazine back to himself before proceeding to his flight. They said he might get a fine, but it would be determined later. He never heard anything more about it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/29 "2018-01-31T17:41:32Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’d expect harsher treatment in places like Maryland, New Jersey, New York, California, Washington DC, etc. > > [TSA’s list of fines](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement) is a bit interesting. They’d find people $1,960-$3,920 for possession of a silencer, all by itself. It’s just a metal tube. [No, it’s not](https://www.atf.gov/firearms/firearms-guides-importation-verification-firearms-gun-control-act-definition-silencer) just a metal tube. > [@](#): > > The term “Firearm Silencer” or “Firearm Muffler” means any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for the use in assembling or fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, any part intended only for use in such assembly or fabrication. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/30 "2018-01-31T17:56:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [No, it’s not](https://www.atf.gov/firearms/firearms-guides-importation-verification-firearms-gun-control-act-definition-silencer) just a metal tube. I thought about adding “with baffles in it” but it seemed overly pedantic. Apparently not. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/31 "2018-01-31T17:58:53Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I thought about adding “with baffles in it” but it seemed overly pedantic. Apparently not. Some people aren’t familiar with how a silencer works. Or that it’s considered a firearm part by the ATF. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/32 "2018-01-31T18:25:27Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Not everyone forgets, but with maybe ~16 or 17 million CCW permit holders across the country, it’s inevitable that some small % of them will forget and show up at the airport with a gun. I wish they wouldn’t, but it happens, and the usual punishment is fairly minor. With that many, it is inevitable that some will be negligent enough to do things like forget that they are carrying a gun when they go to the airport. In addition to the fine that TSA levies on most people, maybe a demonstration of negligence like that should show that more training is needed before being allowed to carry a gun around in public. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/33 "2018-01-31T18:32:03Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > With that many, it is inevitable that some will be negligent enough to do things like forget that they are carrying a gun when they go to the airport. > > In addition to the fine that TSA levies on most people, maybe a demonstration of negligence like that should show that more training is needed before being allowed to carry a gun around in public. Earlier RTfirefly made this suggestion: > [@RTFirefly](#): > > … Something like this, maybe, for cases like this: the person loses the right to carry outside the home for 3-6 months, perhaps? After that, hopefully, the person would be a lot less likely to forget whether he was carrying. I would be rather supportive of the appropriate state agency deciding to suspend permits for a while in those cases. I’m not happy about the negligence shown either. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/34 "2018-01-31T18:39:03Z")
Fairly recently a Colorado politician also mistakenly brought a gun to the airport. A follow up story from a couple weeks after shows that HD’s interpretation of how gun friendlier states handle this is largely correct. [Gun possession at DIA rarely leads to charges](http://kdvr.com/2017/12/18/charges-rare-gun-possession-at-dia/) > [@](#): > > “Is there some sort of intentional or knowing violation,” said McCann, who added most people caught with a gun at DIA aren’t prosecuted because it’s almost always determined to be an honest mistake. > > This year, the Denver District Attorney’s Office has only charged one person for the offense. Beth McCann is Denver District Attorney. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/35 "2018-01-31T18:48:21Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I don’t care who it is, this shit pisses me off. I own a gun dealership so I naturally also have dozens of firearms in my personal collection. I not only know where all the guns at the shop are at all times I also always know where all my personal weapons are at all times even when I’m not carrying them. > > Carrying a gun does become second nature but whether it’s in a briefcase or on a hip holster the carrier should still be aware of it. “I didn’t know I was carrying a gun” warrants having your head cracked open to see if you have a brain or your tongue ripped out because you are lying. > > :o Sorry. But that shit really pisses me off. You know, I am sure you are good at keeping track but it’s kind of a more central focus of your life as a gun dealer and (IIRC) a former cop. It’s simply not a realistic expectation for the general population. If you carry a gun around all the time, you are going to forget it somewhere, forget to lock it up when you get home or some other stupid shit. It’s human nature. People forget their babies in their cars, ffs. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/36 "2018-01-31T19:05:19Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > You know, I am sure you are good at keeping track but it’s kind of a more central focus of your life as a gun dealer and (IIRC) a former cop. It’s simply not a realistic expectation for the general population. If you carry a gun around all the time, you are going to forget it somewhere, forget to lock it up when you get home or some other stupid shit. It’s human nature. And that is why people that carry guns around in public need to demonstrate that they are responsible. Most people are not responsible enough to carry a gun in public. > [@](#): > > People forget their babies in their cars, ffs. And we call them terrible, irresponsible parents for doing so, we don’t just shrugs and say, “Eh, what can you do?” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/37 "2018-01-31T19:06:17Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > You know, I am sure you are good at keeping track but it’s kind of a more central focus of your life as a gun dealer and (IIRC) a former cop. It’s simply not a realistic expectation for the general population. If you carry a gun around all the time, you are going to forget it somewhere, forget to lock it up when you get home or some other stupid shit. It’s human nature. People forget their babies in their cars, ffs. The difference being people can’t just lock up their babies at home, while that’s a totally reasonable thing to do with firearms when you leave the house. And there’s really no reason not to, unless you’re being stalked, or if you unfortunately have business in some, erm, shithole neighborhood. Like you say, it’s just not a reasonable expectation for the general population that they keep track of their guns if they carry them around all the time. Maybe they just shouldn’t, absent some obvious necessity. Just because you legally _can_ do something, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/38 "2018-01-31T19:07:46Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > And that is why people that carry guns around in public need to demonstrate that they are responsible. Most people are not responsible enough to carry a gun in public. > And we call them terrible, irresponsible parents for doing so, we don’t just shrugs and say, “Eh, what can you do?” We don’t call them terrible, irresponsible parents if you have any clue about the subject, but yes many people do call them that. hijack avoidance eta: here’s a long thread we had about it: > **[People who "forget" their babies in the car on a hot day](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=726468)** > > Maybe it’s really obvious to those of you who have children that I don’t, but you will NEVER convince me that those are usually accidents. :mad: I really think that the people who do this are sick of caring for the baby, or are dealing with marital... ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/39 "2018-01-31T19:09:10Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > … Most people are not responsible enough to carry a gun in public. … I disagree. I think most people are responsible enough to carry a gun in public. Some tiny fraction of gun owners misuse / mishandle their firearms, but it is a _tiny fraction_. Most adults can handle things like caring for a child, driving a vehicle, or carrying a gun without any major issues. When mistakes / abuses occur, appropriate measures should be taken, but that’s a long ways from “most people are not responsible enough”. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856/40 "2018-01-31T19:12:51Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > … Like you say, it’s just not a reasonable expectation for the general population that they keep track of their guns if they carry them around all the time. Maybe they just shouldn’t, absent some obvious necessity. Just because you legally _can_ do something, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. It’s probably not reasonable to expect them, as a group, to be flawless / perfect, but look at the numbers. Last year, something like 16.996 million (out of 17 million) CCW permit holders did NOT carry their gun into a TSA checkpoint. Seems like a pretty reasonable expectation that the vast majority of them won’t do so this year either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-mississippi-gov-and-rnc-chairman-haley-barbour-arrested-with-gun-at-airport/807856.md?page=3)