I am truly astonished that these charges were dropped, even with an NRA lawyer present at the arraignment.

Jeff

Traditionally, no weapons are allowed inside the Palace gates. Commoners may observe from a distance.

I don't understand why he was asked if he had a gun. Is that a standard question for the Holiday Inn?

The Constitution was created only for the police and ruling class. Move along citizen nothing for you here.

I'm with Chuck, They ask guests as they sign in if they have a gun? What if you say no do they give you one? I know crime is rampant in DC but did not think it was that bad!

Also why would you even think of saying yes? As an aside the town I live in was looking for money as so sent a student around to each home to ask if they had a cat as all cats are supposed to had a license, just like dogs, (don't know when that happened). I said no, with the cat sitting in the front window looking out :)

Next time you get asked that question turn it around on them and ask if they have bed-bugs.

Another route is to simply say "My vehicle is private property and what is inside it is none of your business."

People don't have cats; cats have people. ... But, at any rate, the lawyer who handled this was Richard Gardiner. The preacher lucked into having a mighty good lawyer.

In another version of the story I read earlier at the Johnson City Press site (http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?ID=80252) it was stated that the Holiday Inn shares its garage with a FEMA office, so one assumes there were some sort of Federal LE or rent-a-cops on site. Why any hotel would subject its guests to that is unknown.

"The family’s ordeal began when they reached the hotel’s parking garage, which is shared with a Federal Emergency Management Agency building. A security guard at the parking garage entrance asked if Duncan had any weapons. Duncan said he carried two Smith and Wesson pistols under his seat. "

Went to visit a major aerospace defense contractor a few years ago. Had to show ID in exchange for a visitors badge. Everything is going fine until the rent a cop sees my Concealed Weapons License opposite my DL...he asked why I have a weapons license. I make the mistake of saying "because I carry a gun." Downhill from there...about 20 minutes of "no, I'm not carrying a gun NOW. No I don't have a gun in my car. I knew the rules and left it at home...Yes you can wand me, no you can't search my vehicle...