The Honorable Jim Webb, Democratic Senator from Virginia, is somewhat less than forthcoming about the criminal investigation of his aide, Phillip Thompson, who was arrested March 26 for carrying a loaded pistol into the Senate.
To one of the reporters present, this sounded as though Webb were saying not only that he carried a gun with him when he was in Virginia, where it's legal, but also that he carried a gun with him when he was in D.C., where it's not. (D.C.'s handgun ban was recently struck down by the D.C. Court of Appeals, but it remains in force while the city government seeks a review by the full D.C. Circuit.) The reporter therefore asked, "Do you, senator, feel that you are above Washington, D.C.'s gun law?" Webb replied: "I'm not going to comment in any level in terms of how I provide for my own security."
Translation: When asked if he was above the law, Webb answered that he is undeniably above the law. We must not forget that by opposing President Bush and opposing the war in Iraq, he is a Person of Unquestionable and Immense Goodness. Therefore he is entitled to say or do anything he pleases at any time. Under those circumstances one could hardly expect the Violence Policy Center or the Brady Campaign to get all worked up over a minor thing like Webb or his aide carrying a loaded pistol into the Senate.
Afterthought: I should point out, I have no problem with Webb carrying his loaded pistol anyplace he'd like, including the Senate floor. He may be a liberal wack job, but he's not crazy and there's no chance he'd suddenly decide to drill one of his esteemed colleagues. Well, maybe there's a chance, but it's 70-30 nobody would mind if he did. Be that as it may, the non-reaction from those who would protect us from ourselves is just so predictable. Amusing even. But just imagine if it was a Republican Senate aide tried that trick.
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