TSA Finds Firearm in Anti-Gun California Lawmaker's Luggage

The Sacramento Bee reported recently that a California state assemblyman, who has been given an "F"-rating by the NRA-ILA for his strong support of gun control, attempted to carry a loaded firearm through a security checkpoint at the Sacramento International Airport.

When anyone else makes this mistake, their gun is confiscated and they are charged with criminal penalties and up to $10,000 in civil penalties.

But when a California assemblyman does it? TSA kindly holds his gun for him while he travels and returns it to him after his return flight.

From the article:

Authorities confiscated a loaded handgun found in luggage belonging to California Assemblyman Jim Cooper at a security checkpoint at the Sacramento International Airport, sheriff’s officials said. Cooper, D-Elk Grove, a retired law enforcement officer who is also running for Sacramento County Sheriff in 2022, was not cited after the loaded semiautomatic gun was found in a purse in one of his bags that he was in control of, said Sgt. Rodney Grassmann, a Sacramento County sheriff’s spokesman.

...

Grassmann said sheriff’s officials confiscated the gun and placed it in a locked box at the airport before Cooper departed Thursday on his flight to Las Vegas. He said the handgun was given back to Cooper when he returned on Saturday to Sacramento.

Cooper, it should be noted, is a retired law enforcement officer (LEO) who is currently running for Sacramento County Sheriff. And while California law allows gun possession at an airport by a retired peace officer who has authorization to carry concealed weapons, it does not allow officers to bring their loaded firearms onto an aircraft. Nor does it provide for the TSA to take responsibility for storing a firearm on behalf of an irresponsible LEO who takes the gun where s/he shouldn't.

Of course, judging by his NRA-ILA rating, Assemblyman Cooper is already quite familiar with the phrase "what's ok for me is not for thee," so there's no doubt he had a nice flight without an ounce of concern for his hypocrisy.

Chad D. Baus served as Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary from 2013-2019, and continues to serve on the Board of Directors. He is co-founder of BFA-PAC, and served as its Vice Chairman for 15 years. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website, and is also an NRA-certified firearms instructor.