Another Citizen Ensnared by D.C. Gun Law

By Dean Weingarten

Ronald William Prestage
Ronald William Prestage
Dean Weingarten
Dean Weingarten

Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- Ronald William Prestage, a prominent veterinarian and farmer, who is also a member of the North Carolina State University’s Board of Trustees, was arrested in the District of Columbia after police discovered a holstered, loaded handgun in his briefcase.

He apparently was scheduled to attend a meeting in the Cannon House Office Building.

Capitol police discovered the firearm in an ankle holster inside of his brief case.   I suspect it was the Ruger LCP, a popular, small, pistol.

 

A friend believes that the small gun was inadvertently left in the luggage.  From the comments at thestate.com:

I know Ron personally and he is an honest upstanding citizen and I truly believe he forgot it was in his brief case. He wasn’t planning on committing any crime with it. My husband has often forgotten he was carrying a gun in his car but has been very lucky and hasn’t been stopped in states that don’t reciprocate with our state.

This points out the wisdom of Representative  Massie, who wants to reform the draconian D.C. gun laws:

“Gun free school zones are ineffective. They make people less safe by inviting criminals into target-rich, no-risk environments,” said Massie. “Gun free zones prevent law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves, and create vulnerable populations that are targeted by criminals.

This is the second time in a week that an upstanding citizen has been ensnared by these laws of questionable constitutionality.   Ryan Lee Shucard, press secretary to Representative Tom Marino, Pa, was tripped up in the same way on 18 July.

The D.C. law has been challenged in the Courts, but the court refuses to rule on it.   It seems likely that the court simply does not want to rule the law unconstitutional, and so has chosen to make no ruling at all.   The case will have been pending for five years on August 6th.   A writ of mandamus, to require the court to make a ruling, has been requested twice.

 Holstered, Loaded Handgun In His Briefcase
Holstered, Loaded Handgun In His Briefcase

 

Update: Since this was written, the District Court has ruled the D.C. laws unconstitutional!   Now is the time for those being prosecuted under the laws to move for the charges to be dismissed!

A related case is pending in New Jersey, where a young black mother with a concealed carry permit is facing three years in jail because she was truthful with the police officer who stopped her for an “improper lane change”.

Congress has the votes to pass legislation requiring all U.S. jurisdictions to honor state issued gun carry permits, just as they do state drivers licenses, but Harry Reid has blocked any progress on the issue.

c2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included. Link to Gun Watch

About Dean Weingarten;

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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Docduracoat

I carry a gun every day
I never “forget” where it is
That should be a crime by itself!
As others have said, this is Federal property and he violated Federal law.
It makes sense that armed citizens are forbidden to enter politicians offices that are protected by scanners and armed police.
It’s not like a stupid gun fee zone in a store where criminals carry and good guys are disarmed
This is a secured zone where nobody is armed and there are gun toting officers guarding the place

Docduracoat

I carry a gun every day
I never “forget” where it is
That should be a crime by itself!
As others have said, this is Federal property and he violated Federal law.
It makes sense that armed citizens are forbidden to enter politicians offices that are protected by scanners and armed police.
It’s not like a stupid gun fee zone in a store where criminals vary and good guys are disarmed
This is a secured zone where nobody is armed and there are gun toting officers guarding the place

Beatbox

It is totally different. It is a federal property and he was trying to enter a secure perimeter. Now I think it was a mistake and they should go easy on him but it had nothing to do with DC laws. Even when they were not emitting the DC laws it was still Isles to brin a gun in the Capitol. .

james

I believe the original intent of these foolish ‘gun free zones’ was to add additional penalties to criminals when committing a crime.

Too often it may ‘look good on paper’ but in reality is very bad idea.

Watchdogman

As soon as we can do away with that shit hole non-state city with a collection of freaks, crooks, pedophiles, killers and then work on getting rid of the really bad people we will have cleaner air, be more prosperous and be free of bed bugs!

Kevin

Too many laws and variables to create confusion.

“It is not unreasonable for a reasonably educated person to be able to reasonably understand the laws which govern them.”

cthulhucalling

Shouldn’t a responsible gun owner know where his guns are at all times? From his friend’s statement, he habitually forgets where his gun is. This sounds like a case of dumb and dumber.

TEX

Beatbox,you’re right ! But if you break it down it’s the same difference !

Beatbox

He wasn’t snared by “DC gun laws.” He was snared by federal laws covering Congress. He was arrested and booked by the Capitol Police. Its a different force with different rules.

Cecil

We are supposed to respect Gay marriage or gender switches across state lines, why not licensed carry permits?