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Any beef I might have would not be with Sen. Hinojosa, but with the 'wink, wink, nod-nod' (read: preferential) treatment, compared to the treatment any of us would likely receive if we were to make such an honest mistake.

I won't even get into how the media would spin it...

Handgun case against senator is dismissed
Hinojosa had gun in briefcase at airport


http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/con ... a0074.html

By Lynn Brezosky

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

McALLEN -- Police said they were dismayed Tuesday that a city judge threw out their charge accusing a South Texas lawmaker of bringing a loaded handgun through airport security.

Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, was found with a 9 mm handgun in his briefcase Monday afternoon as he passed through security at Miller International Airport.

Airport security discovered the weapon, and police arrested Hinojosa and took him to be arraigned. But to the chagrin of police, McAllen Municipal Court Judge Kathleen Henley dropped the charge, Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said Tuesday.

"Our impression was that he would be arraigned by Judge Henley yesterday afternoon," Rodriguez said. "To our dismay we learned that Judge Henley basically dismissed him. . . . I've never seen a case basically tossed out at the arraignment point."

He said the police investigation would continue and when completed, the case would be referred to federal authorities and Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra.

But Guerra said he thought Henley did the right thing.

"Nobody in their right mind would put a weapon in a briefcase that clearly has to be X-rayed at an airport," Guerra said. "If you just want to be arrested you can just take a weapon to the airport and wave it and say, 'I want to be arrested.' Some people will make innocent mistakes."

Hinojosa issued a statement late Monday saying he had made a mistake by "rushing to the airport and not checking my briefcase prior to entering the McAllen Miller International Airport."

Calls to his office on Tuesday were not returned.

Henley would not say why she dismissed the charge. A clerk outside her office said the judge said talking to reporters would "violate the code."

According to The Transportation Security Administration Web site, weapons may not be brought to security checkpoints without authorization. The TSA said bringing a weapon into a checkpoint could result in charges.

Rodriguez said police had charged Hinojosa with taking a weapon where it is prohibited, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

"The laws are very specific and very clear," he said. "It's a chargeable offense even if it's done recklessly."

Nah....couldn't be...

What do you think the outcome would've been if it had been any of us?

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mp ... an/3391086

Oct. 11, 2005, 6:47AM


Gun in briefcase trips up McAllen senator at airport
Associated Press

McALLEN — A South Texas lawmaker detained by police after bringing a handgun through an airport metal detector said Monday he made a mistake and that he had a permit to carry the weapon.


Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, was found with a 9 mm handgun in his briefcase as he passed through security at Miller International Aiport in McAllen, Harlingen television station KGBT reported. Airport security discovered the weapon and Hinojosa was taken to the McAllen Police Department before being released.

"I made a mistake in rushing to the airport and not checking my briefcase prior to entering the McAllen Miller International Airport," Hinojosa said in a statement. "The airport security at McAllen Miller International was doing their job."

Hinojosa said police verified his concealed handgun permit, identity and traced the weapon before releasing him.

McAllen police and a woman answering the phone at the airport would not comment when contacted by The Associated Press late Monday.