Tea Party Patriots Co-Founder Mark Meckler Arrested For Gun Possession At New York Airport

One of the founders of the Tea Party Patriots was busted at New York City's LaGuardia Airport on a gun charge, his lawyer said Thursday.

"Mark Meckler, an attorney and National Coordinator for Tea Party Patriots, who holds a concealed-carry permit from the state of California, today was charged with a firearms violation at LaGuardia Airport in New York City," said Brian Stapleton, Meckler's lawyer, in a statement.

"While in temporary transit through the state of New York in possession of an unloaded, lawful firearm that was locked in a [Transportation Security Administration]-approved safe, he legally declared his possession of the firearm in his checked baggage at the ticket counter as required by law and in a manner approved by TSA and the airline, yet was arrested by port authority for said possession," Stapleton said.

Port Authority police could not immediately be reached for comment.

According to the Associated Press:

Queens prosecutors say Tea Party Patriots co-founder Mark Meckler was taken into custody at about 5:20 a.m. Thursday after he tried to check in for a Delta flight ... with a box containing a Glock pistol and 19 cartridges of ammunition.

Officials said Meckler declared the weapon, as required. He was also licensed to carry the gun in California, where he lives.

But that license is not valid in New York, which has strict rules on carrying concealed weapons.

UPDATE: 9:10 p.m. -- A spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs LaGuardia, called the case an "unfortunate situation" and said that Meckler apparently did not know the law in New York.

Spokesman Al Della Fave said that Meckler, 49, had arrived at the airport at 5:30 a.m. to board a Delta flight to Detroit.

He declared that he had the weapon in his luggage, Della Fave said, and the ticket agent notified police.

Police found the gun, which is registered, locked in a case.

"He had the weapon and ammunition, and that's like having a loaded weapon," Della Fave said.

Although Meckler has a permit for California, he does not have one for New York, where he had stayed for several days, Della Fave said.

Meckler was cooperative, and told police he carried the gun because he had been getting death threats.

"It's an unfortunate situation," said Della Fave, who advised gun owners to check the rules before they travel somewhere. "This is not the first time this has happened to somebody, and it won't be the last. It just happened to be Mr. Meckler this time."

Meckler was still being held Thursday night. He was charged with second-degree possession of a weapon.

A law enforcement source said such cases generally result in a fine, and not jail time.

Comments

[LarryA]

08:07 PM on 01/18/2012

Well that was a dumb move now wasn't it Mark?

[Rooster Coburn]

05:23 PM on 01/13/2012

As a  Floridian with a state issued CCW license I welcome out-of-state visitors to our state who have valid concealed carry licenses from states which Florida accepts bringing their handguns to our state and carrying them wherever our laws permit.

[LarryA]

01:15 PM on 01/13/2012

What kind of idiot brings a gun to an airport without checking the laws in that state? All gun owners know that it is their responsibility to know the laws. Unbelievable how stupid some tea people are.

Wait a minute, something doesn't smell right. This guy is an attorney right? An attorney? And he doesn't know that gun laws vary by state and that it is his responsibility to comply by them? Unless of course, as an attorney he knows that people who do this typically just get fined and knew he won't serve jail time so he did it for publicity.

Hmm....

[houstondemocrat]

06:59 PM on 01/12/2012

"getting death threats". Liar.

[Richard Edelstein]

02:12 PM on 01/12/2012

I guess it doesn't matter how much a gun owner complies with the laws, he is still vulnerable to arrest for political reason. THAT is just not right!

[dolfin1943]

08:35 AM on 01/12/2012

Federal Law allows this. New York just takes away the right of its citizens even after the supreme court ruled against them.

[pieterdprall]

07:31 AM on 01/12/2012

What New York Region and California Coastal Region Liberals don't understand is that the Second Amendment provides the people with a means of protecting themselves from government run amok. Taking it one step further. The "gun toting nuts" who live in the interior regions of our country and who exercise their right to keep and bear arms freely are protecting the right of Metropolitan Region Dwellers to be as Queer as they are. If we existed entirely at the mercy and under the thumb of government; and lived without the right to protect our rights and individualism; Extreme Liberal Freedom (as exists in densely packed urban regions) would not exist. All the liberals would have been sent to concentration camps and prisons long ago.

[HoyaHoyaSaxa]

10:25 PM on 01/09/2012

States rights win again.

[Godweiser]

07:26 PM on 12/30/2011

I bet the response was this, "Yew cain't arrest me boah, ahm a real Amurikin!"

[wstan101]

10:43 AM on 01/12/2012

Hey budweiser, what would you do if being charged with a knife, or baseball bat, wait i'll answer you would hit the ground and start screaming and crying like a little girl because you had no means to protect yourself.

[eaglespark]

07:07 PM on 01/12/2012

"I bet the response was this, "Yew cain't arrest me boah, ahm a real Amurikin!"

Mark Meckler is an attorney, and he does not talk like that. Example:

"People are tired of a government that seems out of touch. There's an entitlement mentality among government officials that they're entitled to these seats, they're entitled to win these elections. It doesn't matter whether they represent their constituents. They have this sort of permanent status as the political class. This was just genuine Americans who are revolted by this concept and who have had enough of that." --Mark Meckler

[BobbyBlueBlood]

03:26 PM on 12/20/2011

Thank the Gods he was stopped, arrested and arraigned on charges of second-degree criminal possession of a concealed weapon, a Class C felony that could carry up to 15 years in prison & $100k in fines.....before he had a chance act on his crazed gunman agenda.

[FM5]

03:50 PM on 12/21/2011

What crazed gunman adgenda?

[BobbyBlueBlood]

04:18 PM on 12/21/2011

You mean The Crazed Teabagger Terrorrist Agenda?
oh it's whatever your leaders like Timothy McVeigh, Meckler, Glen Beck tell you to do...

[wstan101]

10:52 AM on 01/12/2012

Which gods are you refering to Hades, Poseidon, oh no wait it would have to be Aphrodite the goddess of love. If you prayed to her the attacker woukd see you deserved to live and let you go.

[OdinsEye]

03:11 PM on 12/20/2011

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/special_baggage/sports_equipment/index.jsp#shooting

Shooting equipment

Shooting equipment is accepted as checked baggage only. It must fit within the very specific criteria that we outline below.

-- Declare to the Delta representative that you are checking a firearm.

-- Declare the existence of a firearm to security personnel if a security checkpoint is prior to the Delta counter.

-- All firearms must be declared by the passenger to a Delta representative at the main ticket counter .

-- Present firearm(s) unloaded and sign a "Firearms Unloaded" declaration.

-- Firearms must be packed in a locked manufacturer's hard–sided container specifically designed for the firearm, a locked hard–sided gun case, or a locked hard–sided piece of luggage. Handguns may be packed in a locked hard–sided gun case, and then packed inside an unlocked soft–sided piece of luggage. However, a Conditional Acceptance Tag must be used in this case.

-- Ensure small arms ammunition is packed in the manufacturer's original package or securely packed in fiber, wood, plastic or metal boxes and provide separation for cartridges.

[Sean McSherry]

12:13 AM on 01/13/2012

This doesn't apply in New York. You have to have a permit to own a handgun in New York. From what I understand it is almost impossible to get, unless you are Steven Tyler(not bashing him, he is a shooting buddy of Ted Nugent) or Rosie O'donnell's body guard. I hate to say it, but I NEVER would go to NY with a gun. It sucks, but that state is messed up. I just assume stay below the mason dixon line.

[OdinsEye]

05:16 PM on 01/13/2012

The FOPA applies even in New York. The problem people tend to run into is when they leave the airport.

"You have to have a permit to own a handgun in New York. "

IF you are going to do anything except for immediately pass through New York, you are correct. If you land in NY and immediately get a rental car and drive to PA or VT, you are covered by the FOPA.

[OdinsEye]

02:07 PM on 12/20/2011

Once again, for those who missed it the first time:

Meckler was NOT arrested for trying to take a firearm on a plane. He was NOT arrested for violations of federal or TSA rules. What he did was in completel compliance for taking firearms on planes.

He was arrested for illegal possession of a handgun in New York. To possess a handgun in New York, it must be registered in New York. His was not registered in New York. You must also have a license to possess in New York. He did not have a license to possess. You must have a permit to carry in New York, his was from California and New York does not have reciprocit­y with California­.

Had he merely been in transit, like going from Pennsylvan­ia to California via New York, he would have been protected by the 1986 Firearm Owners Protection Act. However, he was not simply in transit, he had been staying several days in New York, making him subject to New York state law.

[wolflover3825]

10:05 PM on 12/20/2011

He's been told that I don't know how many times. He's acting like a little spoiled brat, and the more we post replies to him the better he likes it, because of the attention. He must think this is funny.

[setanta54]

01:00 AM on 12/21/2011

his lawyer and the article plainly state he was "in transit".===.."While in temporary transit through the state of New York in possession of an unloaded, lawful firearm that was locked in a [Transportation Security Administration]-approved safe, he legally declared his possession of the firearm in his checked baggage at the ticket counter as required by law and in a manner approved by TSA and the airline, yet was arrested by port authority for said possession," Stapleton said.

[OdinsEye]

05:29 PM on 12/29/2011

The also admit that he had been staying in New York for several days, meaning he was not "in transit". The only stops allowed when "in transit" for the purposes of the FOPA are for necessities such as bathroom breaks, food (some limits apply), fuel, necessary rests, or awaiting transportation. By staying several days, any claim of protection as being "in transit" is completely nullified, something his spokes/person/lawyer very quickly found out after making the statement you refer to.

[TazQueDOg1]

08:25 PM on 12/19/2011

I don't agree with the Tea Party, but I must admit if others have had to pay a fine, then it is only fair that he should too. The only caveat to that is that somewhere in this reporting it was stated that he had a "fundamental misunderstanding of the law." I can't agree with this one bit. This man is a lawyer so the whole "I didn't understand the full extent of the law as it pertained to my weapon" is an extremely poor excuse. Anyone who has ever been to pulled over or before a judge should already know that ignorance of the law is never an excuse, therefore for a lawyer, one who is trained in the ways of the legal profession, to claim that as an excuse is outright madness.

[Berettasskeeter]

02:14 PM on 12/20/2011

He was in compliance, having separated the firearm and ammunition. This is a misinterpretation by New York authorities. He may still be found guilty, but that will be a stain on New York.
Semper fi

[setanta54]

01:11 AM on 12/21/2011

wonder how long it will take for him to get that firearm back ?

[svnstrng3]

02:18 PM on 01/12/2012

Only that,most people dont understand that NYC has laws that are seperate and different from NY State -I know I happen to live in NYC it is the most annoying and downright ridiculous set of rules/laws. I can't have a semi-auto rifle/shotgun where I live but if I travel 10 minutes to long island which is part of NY but not NY city (5 borroughs) I could legally own one.I've traveled with firearms before and airlines do not share the same rules the only constant is that the TSA must check and validate the firearm and it must be packed accordingly with ammo seperate.That's only leaving NY. I have flown back into NY with zero hastle I just let the airline know in advance I was transporting a firearm.

[BobbyBlueBlood]

10:40 AM on 12/19/2011

LMAO!!!..this guy is, was and has always been... dumber the a door-nail.. now he's a Felon!..Ahhhaaaaa!!!!

[hagagaga]

11:47 AM on 12/19/2011

Actually, he's not a felon.

"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding."

Notice how the Supremacy Clause puts federal law such as the Firearm Owners' Protection Act above state law?

[QuiltMaker4Life]

03:45 PM on 12/19/2011

There's only preemption if Congress says there is. Where does it say in FOPA that Congress specifically preempts the states? Further, it's interesting that conservatives don't like state rights when it doesn't suit the issue at hand.

[svnstrng3]

02:19 PM on 01/12/2012

It's a misdemeanor not a felony offense.

[BobbyBlueBlood]

02:35 PM on 01/12/2012

NO --wrong again chewy--- READ -weep:

Tea Party | Concealed Carry | Felony | The Daily Caller
Meckler was arraigned Thursday in Queens Criminal Court and charged with second degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C felony. Meckler was released Thursday.

(What part of the above do you tbagger types do not understand?..LMAO!!)

google the Queens Court records and read for yourself- sick of you weasels.

[afimedia]

09:25 PM on 01/12/2012

In New York City, it is absolutely a Class 3 Felony to possess a handgun.

[hagagaga]

07:23 PM on 12/18/2011

Due to the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution of the United States of America, he broke no law.