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*** UPDATE *** Bail was set at $25,000…
Trotter, who spent the night at Chicago Police Department lockup, was released around 1:10 p.m. He had to post 10 percent or $2,500 to bail out of jail.
A reporter asked Trotter if he was still running. The South Side lawmaker responded: “From you.”
* The state law that Sen. Donne Trotter is charged with violating…
It is unlawful for any person to board or attempt to board any commercial or charter aircraft, knowingly having in his or her possession any firearm, explosive of any type, or other lethal or dangerous weapon.
I highlighted that one word for obvious reasons. To convict him of a Class 4 felony, the Cook County State’s Attorney has to prove that Trotter knowingly had that pistol in his garment bag. Trotter contends that he forgot the empty pistol and a loaded clip were in the bag.
He did, however, vote for that law, so he should’ve been more careful than the average citizen. He knew the penalties.
…Adding… According to the Legislative Reference Bureau, the language in that above statute was actually first enacted in 1990. It was simply moved to a different part of the statute books. Trotter, however, did vote to increase the penalty to a felony from a misdemeanor in 2002.
* Also, there was a bunch of talk in comments yesterday and in at least one Sun-Times blog post about Trotter’s long ago opposition to concealed carry - as if that somehow applied here. He wasn’t carrying the pistol on his person. Apples and oranges.
But he certainly has voted against some pro-gun bills and voted for some gun control bills, even though he recently voted to override the governor’s attempt to use an amendatory veto to create a new assault weapons ban. Todd Vandermyde of the NRA defended Trotter repeatedly in comments yesterday. For instance…
It was a mistake, and the question is should he have is life ruined for a mistake?
Senator Trotter has had a mixed record on guns but with his new district that stretches down into Kankakee, he has kept an open mind.
I think the Sun times article is a hit piece devoid of context and taken from 1995. It’s 2012/13 I’m sure nobody ever changes their minds.
And…
I see a difference between someone who didn’t “know” the gun was there and someone trying to evade security and sneak one on.
* But Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez recently charged a 65 year-old flight attendant with a felony for doing almost the same thing as Trotter...
An attorney for the American Airlines flight attendant arrested at O’Hare International Airport said the woman did not know there was a gun in her carry-on luggage.
Sheila A. Schultz, of Palatine, Ill., was ordered held in lieu of $10,000 bail Saturday for allegedly trying to bring a gun onto an airplane at O’Hare International Airport. She was arrested Friday after an X-ray machine revealed the gun in her carry on luggage.
Defense attorney David Studenroth told the Associated Press the woman’s husband inadvertently left the fully loaded .22 caliber revolver in the bag and that Schultz had no idea it was there when she went through the O’Hare security checkpoint.
Schultz, 65, was arrested and charged with one class 4 felony count of attempting to board aircraft with a weapon and one misdemeanor count of of possessing a firearm without a valid FOID.
* More…
Schultz was heading to work that morning, scheduled to be on a flight to Shanghai, China, Studenroth said. She was passing through an O’Hare security checkpoint for employees when an X-ray machine detected something in her carry-on bag. A security worker allegedly recovered a .22-caliber revolver containing live rounds and held her for Chicago police.
“She was unaware that the handgun was in that bag,” Studenroth explained. “Her husband forgot to take it out.”
Her husband, who does possess a valid FOID card, had come back from a trip to Michigan. “They share the bag,” Studenroth said.
According to Studenroth, the statute says someone must commit the act “knowingly.”
“She did not knowingly possess that handgun,” he said.
* Meanwhile, the political damage to Trotter’s congressional campaign is pretty obvious, but his most important supporter is not backing away…
“I need to sit down and talk to him face to face and find out what exactly happened,” said Frank Zuccarelli, who is chairing the effort to slate a candidate for the 2nd congressional district. The special election to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. is scheduled for February and the field is growing by the day. Before his arrest, Trotter, who lives on the South Side, was thought to be a top-tier candidate.
Zuccarelli, who is the committeeman for Thornton Township, has publicly said he would back Trotter during slating. So far on Wednesday, that hadn’t changed.
“I am supporting him and he is my friend, I’m sure there is a good explanation for what happened,” said Zuccarelli. He said he had only communicated with Trotter by text. Trotter let him know he had been arrested. “We have to sit down and talk…I’m sure he’s together, Donne’s together. I’ve got confidence in him, he’s a good man.”
The head of the Cook County Democratic Party, Joe Berrios, said ultimately it would be up to Trotter to decide if he’s going to pull out of the race.
* More…
Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who used represent part of the district Trotter is seeking to represent, said it could hurt Trotter’s chances in the race.
“As far as political, the people of the district and the party leaders have to make a decision to put a person with this kind of baggage in the answer in the Second District,” Kinzinger said.
One political analyst says while this arrest might not derail his campaign, it doesn’t help in a district that has already seen more than its share of controversial candidates.
“One doesn’t understand how one can go on a plane this day and age,” the Director of the Institute for Politics at Roosevelt University Paul Green said. “It will be used as an argument against him. It’s something he did but not a knock out.”
Trotter campaign slogans?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:12 am
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I’m even more happy now that since moving to Cook County I’ve never voted for Alvarez. She seems to overlook fairness and reason for political expediency.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:18 am
- Trotter campaign slogans? -
Getting the felonies out of my system…
Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:19 am
STL, exactly. Will we be treated to another example of Cook County justice where charges against one individual are dropped or reduced on some vague technicality while the other individual is prosecuted? I would like to see the same outpouring of support for the FA as the politician.
Comment by Hank Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:27 am
Trotter campaign slogan.—
“I should have know better…its leave the gone, take the cannoli”
Comment by Ha! Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:27 am
Did I read he is a Security Guard, which is why he had the piece in the first place? It actually lends believability to his excuse. But the Security Guard job is more surprising
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:28 am
- Ha! - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:27 am:
Trotter campaign slogan.—
“I should have known better…its leave the gun, take the cannoli”
Comment by Ha! — Sorry for the typos Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:28 am
as long as the law is applied the same way for all individuals. so that would mean charging him was not strange.
Comment by amalia Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:30 am
As more information comes out, my views on this case are evolving.
It first looked like he was “concealed carrying” while voting against that for everybody else.
As details have come out, it turns out that it wasn’t the case.
It also turns out (and Todd’s views on this were very helpful) that he’s become more reasonable when it comes to gun control generally.
This was sort of dumb on his part, but everybody makes mistakes, particularly when, as in this case, it looks like he was working pretty long hours.
The real story here is becoming that a Cook County State’s Attorney is more than willing to prosecute this, but dragged her feet on prosecuting a Daley relative who killed somebody.
Hopefully in four years, the GOP will again have a candidate like Lori Yokoyama (who on paper is very qualified for the job) but this time they will have an organization in place that can support the candidate.
Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:31 am
Not only does he have a second job which requires the gun, but he had come directly from that job to the airport, which is why he had forgotten to take the gun out of the bag.
And why is Anita Alverez having someone sit in jail for over 36 hours for an unintentional act?
Comment by John Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:31 am
I don’t really consider the attendent’s charges compared to Trotter’s. Her gun was loaded Iknown to her it was there or not) and she did not have a gun card. As ‘innocent’ as her weapon actually got into her presence and headed on board i find a bit different than Trotter. Trotter had a stupid forget, but attendent carelessly used someone else’s baggage (if if her husband) and did not bother to check for obviously anything that should not be in there…as an attendent which is well aware of the total need to have proper carry ons and deals with the importance of the necessity for the needs of security, I fail to give her a ‘forgot’ excuse.
Comment by Cindy Lou Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:37 am
Trotter slogan: “Fly the friendlier skies”
Comment by Steve Bartin Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:38 am
Anita needs a - break. She is in a political death spiral. Her initial response to her recent bad press will be to act more aggressively in all cases. The paradox however for her is that approach will simply highlight her apathetic response to the Koshman case not only in 2004 but again in 2011.
Comment by Fair Share Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:41 am
Rich- you’re spot on about your assessment of what the State’s Attorney must prove. First thing students learn in a criminal law class is the difference between a general intent crime and a specific intent crime.
The fact that the law reads “knowingly” means that it is a specific intent crime. If the State’s Attorney cannot prove the knowingly level of intent then Trotter must be acquitted as a matter of law- no way around it.
Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:43 am
You know we’ve gone over the edge when reporters are interviewing a Republican congressman for a story on how to win a Democratic primary. Is the modern reporter’s rolodex really that thin?
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:43 am
My own personal take on this:
Trotter is not *really* working security somewhere, but uses the association with the security firm to obtain the PERC card which can be used to explain away the carrying of the small handgun as job-related.
This is not easy to get for most folks unless they are *really* working security.
Hence, it’s CCW for the man who votes against it.
Comment by John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:44 am
Taking a play from the Al Capone quote…
“Donne Trotter can get more done with a kind word and a gun, than his opponents could with a kind word alone.”
Comment by LandSnark Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:44 am
Donnie Trotter -
For a TSA-free Peotone
Because the 2nd District needs guns not Tois
Putting the 2nd Amendment into the 2nd District
Better to bring a gun on a plane than a DC cocktail waitress
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:47 am
Nice reference to luggage in Kinzinger’s statement.
Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:48 am
Are we coming to the place where criminal behavior by possible and current office holders, unless related to the office, will be overlooked and not held against the politician? Seems like it.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:52 am
- Trotter is not *really* working security somewhere -
I don’t know personally, but according to Rich yesterday he actually is working security.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:01 am
Wensica- hold off on the criminal behavior exasperation. If the SA cannot prove that Trotter knowingly brought the gun with him the airport then there is no “criminal” behavior.
Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:04 am
As reported earlier in Capitol Fax, I think the bigger prople will be the fact that he didn’t disclose this on his Statement of Econmic Interest. This could raise an ethical question for the Senator.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:05 am
According to a NY Times article from a couple months ago about airport security this happens 4-5 times a day around the country.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/29/business/tsa-is-finding-more-guns-at-airport-security-checkpoints.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
The relevant paragraph:
“Once a gun is found, assuming there is no indication of a federal crime, local laws apply. In some locations, “if you come to the checkpoint with a weapon and law enforcement gets involved, they’ll just tell you take it back to your car, because you’re in a state where you’re allowed to carry one” in most places. “But do that in a place like New York and you could be in Rikers Island in about 30 seconds,” Mr. Castelveter said.
So the question should be, why is Anita Alverez arresting someone who was legally allowed to carry the weapon and was properly transporting it (unloaded in a bag) and not allowing him to return it to his car.
Comment by John Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:06 am
Knowledge is a defined term. 720 ILCS 5/4-5. It means consciously aware or awareness of the substantial probability the fact exists, i.e., there is a gun in my bag. I don’t see it.
Comment by archibald.jones Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:06 am
Slogan: It’s in the bag!
Comment by 60611 Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:07 am
You also have to wonder how much time he’s actually devoting to any one of his jobs, if he has time to work at three.
Comment by Personal Finances Worth Looking Into Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:08 am
They say these things come in threes.
Ford, Trotter and ?.
I hope I am wrong.
Comment by Jake From Elwood Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:09 am
When you go to the airport the TSA asks you these kinds of questions: “Did you back you own bags? Have your bags been in your posession since you packed them?”
How someone responds to these questions is relevant to determining “knowledge” of what is or is not in the baggage. Even though it was probably a mistake, simply saying “I forgot it was in there” is not going to be enough.
Comment by Knowing vs. Not Knowing Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:12 am
Oops, that should be “pack your own bags” not “back.”
Comment by Knowing vs. Not Knowing Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:13 am
John @ 10:06: Thanks for the explanation on the fed v. state issue.
But, keep in mind, Anita Alvarez is not a TSA or police officer… she was not there at O’Hare deciding if Trotter can just return the gun to his car.
Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:13 am
===When you go to the airport the TSA asks you these kinds of questions===
I’m never asked those questions when I’m not checking a bag.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:14 am
Let him and the flight attendant go. Geesh.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:16 am
Trotter slogan:
“Give me a shot; I don’t have this race in the bag”
Comment by D.P. Gumby Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:17 am
The folks all suggesting Donne Trotter should not be drawing income from a second job, may be earning considerably more money than Trotter does as an IL State Senator. This isn’t a luxury gig.
Comment by ZC Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:24 am
So Trotter apparently has unreported income from a security job that requires him carrying a gun. And while on the job he kept the gun in his garment bag? This all sounds so shady and different levels.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:30 am
Campaign Slogans
Locked and Unloaded
It’s In The Bag
A Low Caliber Candidate
Comment by John A Logan Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:38 am
Alvarez should go after Trotter with the same zeal as she went after Schultz. Why does Trotter deserve different treatment?
Comment by bman Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:39 am
He will get a slap on the wrist, maybe some kind of probation…he should lose his FOID card for sure…security guard my butt, he just has that excuse to have a gun.
Comment by Rudykzooti Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:45 am
===Trotter told investigators he worked late Tuesday night at his job as a security guard at All Points Security, packed his bag early this morning but didnt realize the gun was in his bag, police said.===
So he was in the Senate during session all day, then went to work at night, then went to the airport. At some time he needed to get from Springfield to Chicago. Something doesn’t feel right about this story.
I’d like to learn more about this security business. If he wasn’t really working “late Tuesday night,” it calls into question his knowledge of what was in his bag.
Bottom line, this was a stupid mistake and not a criminal act, but boy did he step in it and there isn’t a good way out for him now. He’s going to have to take his lumps and hope Alvarez handles his case and Schultz’ case with some common sense.
Donne Trotter: Shooting himself in the foot with an unloaded gun.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:48 am
Sen Trotter is without question one of the best dressed members of GA, does he really look like a guy who workers nights as a security guard? If I recall correctly Chicago’s ABC news showed the supposed security firm that the Senator worked for and it was a very small operation. I suspect that there is a minority subcontractor aspect to this firm.
Unfortunately the Senator has opened up a Pandora’s box and there will now be lots of people looking. On another aspect of this issue. I have traveled by plane and shipped a hand gun. It requires formal notification of the airline and a special shipping box. As I recall I was not allowed to ship ammo. But one thing I know for sure is that I was very aware of the rules regarding weapons and air travel. The fact that the Senator claims he did not recall the weapon was in his carry on just shows he clearly carries a weapon frequently and possibly not legally.
Comment by Rod Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:50 am
Donne for Congress - a straight shooter.
Donne for Congress - he’ll hit Washington with a bang.
Donne for Congress - for a .25 ACP in every garment bag.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:55 am
Trotter for Congress-It’s Automatic
Vote Trotter-I’ll carry your baggage in Washington!
Trotter-A Square Shooter with A Nine Shooter!
Trotter-Knowingly Best for the 2nd District!
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:10 am
Trotter.. I’m always packing.
Really isn’t he just establishing his street cred before he gets started on the campaign.
Comment by frustrated GOP Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:15 am
Folks, a number of you are trying to play Junior G-person based on incomplete information and/or knowledge of the relevant laws here. I was doing the same thing yesterday and was somewhat confused about some matters here until
I hit the Google and learned from guys like Todd. Take. A
Breath.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:18 am
Yesterday, Senator Donnie Trotter was arrested for possessing a handgun in his carryon bag when trying to board an airplane at O’Hare airport.
Some have tried to jump on a bandwagon of trying to dance in the misfortune of Senator Trotter’s inadvertent mistake. And that is what this appears to be, a simple mistake. The inattention to detail to realize that his bag contained a firearm and he was about to go through security at an airport.
It is a “crime” of possession, having it in his control at the wrong time at the wrong place. And like I said a mistake. I don’t think that Senator Trotter, nor the flight attendant should have their lives and carriers ruined for a mistake. Neither of these cases was the individual aware of the presence of the firearm. Nor did they have any ill intentions. They were not associated with Al Qaeda nor a street gang. And neither has some sort of lengthy criminal record.
Some want to point to the hypocritical nature of Trotter being “caught” with a firearm despite is past voting record. The Sun-Times even went back to 1995 to dredge up his opposition to a concealed carry bill. People change positions on issues over time. Is votes in the past don’t reflect the conversations we have had over the last two years. Just this past week, Senator Trotter joined with 48 of his colleagues to override the Governor’s veto of a bill to allow the mail order sale of ammunition by Illinois retailers to Illinois residents.
His new district runs from the South side of Chicago, to Kankakee, with changing boundaries, come changing constituents with different perspectives. Senator Trotter has maintained an open mind and we have always been able to talk. And we continue to do so.
Out of state groups who never spend any time working the halls of the Capitol would do well to learn the whole record rather than issue knee jerk press releases reveling in the misfortune of an otherwise law abiding gun owner. Minorities and women are the fastest growing demographic in new gun owners. Gun owners would do well to continue to reach out to this growing group, not drive them away by snotty press releases.
The real lesson of this is the lack of any semblance of compassion in the criminal justice system. We have laws for reasons, but justice for the sake of being punitive is not justice. What is absolutely appalling is the lack of any reasonableness in evaluating the situation and the circumstances around it. Instead we have a notorious anti-gun states attorney, who due to her own ineptness, can’t look past the totality of the situation in these cases, the flight attendant or Senator Trotter, and see that justice is not being done. Instead she clings to her disdain for firearms and people who would own them or even want to carry one for self protection. At a time when other states’ attorneys are publicly announcing that they will not prosecute people with FOID cards and no evil motives from carrying a firearm for self defense, we have Anita Alverez who wants to make an example out of people who make a mistake.
What is really glaring is the lack of proportion. Ms. Alverez was the COS under Dick Devine who in prosecuting Tyrus McCants for gun running, the illegal transfer of 3 or more firearms racked up the whopping sentence of 18 months probation on what is a class 1 felony – for supplying firearms on the streets of Chicago.
Yet Senator Trotter and a flight attendant should be made out as felons for a simple mistake, facing 1 to 3 years and a host of fines and legal costs. Which should offend our sensibilities more; the lack of common sense in the prosecution of these cases, or the inattention to detail that led to these charges?
Donnie Trotter will have spent almost 36 hours in detainment for his mistake. He now gets to go through the meat grinder many law abiding gun owners face. TSA shows they have about 1500 of these a year. He also gets to see the Cook County criminal justice system up close and personal as a person who had a legal firearm, a FOID and even a PERC card. He faces a smear of his reputation and achievements for this event. I would rather have someone who has tasted that for a mistake as an ally.
Donnie Trotter is a friend. But I know that but for the grace of God, in my haste on a trip someday, I could be sitting where he is today. And I would want the same opportunity not to have my life ruined because I made a mistake.
That’s why I will give Donnie Trotter and the flight attendant the benefit of the doubt and won’t pile on.
Comment by Todd Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:25 am
‘Have Gun Will Travel’
Comment by WazUp Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:40 am
Trotter is either telling the truth or is incredibly stupid. Either way, he has demonstrated that he is not responsible enough to be treated with a weapon. A responsible gun owner knows where the weapon is at all times.
Comment by grand old partisan Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:42 am
Drop the charges he made a dumb mistake Beside there will be plenty of opportunity later to indict him on something that wasn’t a mistake.
Comment by WazUp Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:42 am
What an embarrassment for every red blooded male..carrying a .25 cal. Good grief, man up and get a .45!
Comment by WazUp Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:45 am
Rich nailed it when he said this should not be part of a 2nd amendment debate. There are however some facts that will hopefully be addressed by the SA. The Senator must have a valid FOID to tranport a firearm and ammunition. Does he? The Senator must also have a PERC in order to be an armed security guard. Does he? A PERC permits the Senator to be armed on the job but the rules concerning transport are prescriptive. Where was he working? For whom? If he literally went from from his security job to a pre-planned flight, he clearly lacks common sense and good judgement. I still don’t think he is a criminal, other things yes, but not a criminal.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:54 am
“Give me a shot!”
Comment by Nuance Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:11 pm
Bad timing Donne, Alvarez had to look tough after looking the other way for the Daley clan. Too bad she is only tough on mistakes and on Northwestern Law Schools, Center for Wrongful Prosecutions.
Comment by onevoter Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:18 pm
This is one of those rare occasions I agree with Cincinnatus. Let them both go. And Alvarez too.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:22 pm
Alvarez is a bit of a joke. She’s obviously compensating, and proving that Trotter knowingly carried the weapon in is a high hurdle that I don’t personally think she’ll clear.
That said, wouldn’t a felony conviction disqualify him from the legislature? Or is that only for felonies related to the member’s official capacity?
Comment by Joe Bidenopoulous Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:26 pm
“Hence, it’s CCW for the man who votes against it.”
On target, no pun intended.
Comment by wishbone Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:42 pm
Yes, drop it, the China-bound lady passenger too, but I must say this has made me wonder about Alvarez in a way I never did before. I just assumed she was doing an average job over there, few state’s attorneys are standouts, but now I’m wondering about her intelligence and judgment. And aren’t we now stuck with her for a while.
Comment by cassandra Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:13 pm
“Donne Trotter - he’ll approach the fiscal cliff with guns a-blazin’!”
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:20 pm
Trotter’s last statement of economic interest was submitted in April. If he started with the security firm subsequent to that, it makes sense that it was not included. Let’s not assume he was not disclosing relevant information.
Comment by GoArmy Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:25 pm
AA and Todd make a lot of sense. This is hardly the crime of the century.
Alvarez obviously wants to change the subject.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:33 pm
Todd-
So you believe Donne supports Conceal Carry now? He should let the voters of the 2nd district know his position then. I’m pretty sure that would do more to effectively end his campaign than this incident.
Comment by LilLebowskiAchiever Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:48 pm
Well Todd, I’m glad you have the gift of omnipotence. You just absolutely “know” it’s a mistake, huh? Maybe it was, but I’ll have a judge decide, not a hired hand from the gun lobby. Thanks for the brilliant legal insight.
Comment by Lobo Y Olla Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:03 pm
Donne Trotter for his Firearm Control Card in March 2012. He got his PERC in May 2011.
Comment by Fight for Chicago Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:22 pm
He’s due back in court on 12-12-12.
Its the end of the world as we know it.
The end of the world as we know it. The end of the world as we know it.
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:24 pm
I am sure he has a good explanation for why the gun wasn’t registered with the City of Chicago as prescribed by law as well.
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:31 pm
Am I the only one who thinks a gun charge doesn’t really hurt him at all? It may hurt his fund-raising, and give Toi a leg up in the short term but I bet polling wise it won’t hurt him.
Comment by siriusly Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:39 pm
=== The South Side lawmaker responded: “From you.” ===
That’s such a great quote.
As for Mr. Trotter, I believe it will cause him more problems than fewer with the electorate if the American Airlines flight attendant is charged and he is not.
The flight attendant’s story is equally, if not a bit more, sympathy-inducing and plausible.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:40 pm
Trotter for Congress. I will bring the heat!
Comment by siriusly Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:41 pm
Love the updated Trotter quote. This guy has enough of a sense of humor that he might be just fine. He’s an incredibly smart guy.
And about Todd…being from the gun lobby doesn’t make you right or wrong. It’s your argument that makes you right or wrong. And Todd’s right.
Comment by Dan Bureaucrat Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:57 pm
- Tood - has done nothing but explain the legal / legisative issue and has shown more common sense than those who are calling him on it.
When we become too cut and dry, and when we refuse to see important, key words in statutes like … knowingly …that is when the lawyers win, and the rule of law loses.
- Todd -, sometimes posting here is like having an open wound in shark-filled waters. You were able to keep it about the legisaltion, the rule of law, and just plain common sense as well as any I had read in a long time, also given the subject matter and the live example you should be commended.
You are a credit to yourself and those who are smart enough to have you represent them.
Respectfully,
Oswego Willy
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 3:22 pm
= The South Side lawmaker responded: “From you.” =
Still the man.
Comment by Dirty Red Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 4:21 pm
=== So he was in the Senate during session all day, then went to work at night, then went to the airport. At some time he needed to get from Springfield to Chicago. Something doesn’t feel right about this story. ===
The original report also noted he was detained “about 8 a.m.”
That’s one heck of a 24-hour period for Mr. Trotter.
Just think 47th Ward - he did all that just before going straight to Washington and rallying support for an important Congressional bid!
Meanwhile, he planned to completely skip the last day of veto session this year.
Perhaps he should have traded the “late shift” that night with someone else or caught a later flight the next day.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 4:40 pm
===Meanwhile, he planned to completely skip the last day of veto session this year. ===
Him and about eight others. They did little to nothing yesterday which required more than a quorum.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 4:44 pm
One of the most disappointing aspects of recent days is the fact that Sen. Trotter and Rep. Ford are widely regarding as being fairly decent fellows and legislators.
^^ If this is what the “good guys” are allegedly up to, then what in the world are the “bad guys” doing? ^^
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 4:46 pm
Willy thank you for the kind words. I’m not affraidof anyone here or what they might say. What are they gonna do shoot me?
And i will let tood know you like him too. Lets get a beer sometime, I’m just down the road.
Quinn — the security and dectives act has a preemption clause, they are exempt form any local gun regulations including the chicago CFP and registration requirements
Lobo- i never said i “knew” I said I would give him the benefit of the doubt. I believe thatbased upon Rich’s reports, Trotters statements, and other reports Trotter made a mistake. And i think the law is being missapplied, as it is in the flight attendant case as well.
You may take issue with who I represent, fine. But instead of piling on, I pointed out how I thought I could have ended up in the same situation, and if you think the application is un fair, then it matters not who it is, but in order to effect change, there is no better advocate thatn a member of the majority party who just got put through the meat grinder.
Btw bite me.
Lil– he very well may. I will let him speak to that. But that would make him 1 of 3 that do, maybe 4 in the race. So what? His new district goes 30 miles outside of Chicago
Comment by Todd Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 4:56 pm
Allpoints Security which Senator Trotter worked for has according to the Illinois State Board of Elections been a political contributor to Friends of Rod Balgovich, Richard M. Daley, and many others including the 8th ward regular democratic organization. But the biggest question is was it ethical for Allpoints Security & Detective, Inc. to give Citizens for Donne Trotter $500 on Nov 11, 2011 if he was employed by that agency. Yes Pandora’s box is open and its unfortunate for the Senator.
Comment by Rod Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 5:07 pm
- Todd -
It’s easy to say kind words when its true. I will hold you to that on beers … when you least suspect it.
Well done…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 5:16 pm
Willy, looks like Wily has a new friend “Tood.”
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 5:22 pm
Wily was told, during therapy to “welcome ohter pseudonyms”, and to be less angry.
Wily is on the road to recovery …
- Todd -
Lemme try this again; I will hold you to the beers, when you least suspect it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 5:32 pm
Rich, with all due respect this guys total comp is likely very close to $100k for this part time taxpayer funded job. Is it too much to expect that he
actually shows up to work on
the few days he is actually
scheduled to be there,
regardless of whether or not
he may think the issues to be
addressed are worthy of his
time?
He was at the Thornton Township meeting at 8, and supposedly got off the security job at midnight. Did he work a 2-3 hour shift?
Then it was off to Washington where once again he could put his own interests ahead of those of his constituents.
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 5:40 pm
Trotter’s Slogan:
Trotter: His Only Baggage is His Baggage
Comment by Dry Blanket Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 5:57 pm
Is there anyone caught with a firearm at the airpot who will admit to trying to bring it on a plane? If not, then how is a prosecutor supposed to know which passengers just made an inadvertant “mistake,” and how many deliberately tried to bypass security?
Comment by reformer Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 6:23 pm
@ -reformer- Let’s start with past practice and instinct.
Comment by TheGoodLieutenant Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 6:34 pm
In 25 years with the Cook County State’s Attorney–including a stint as the head of the public integrity division–has Anita Alvarez ever gotten a guilty conviction against anyone more connected than a crooked cop?
Donne Trotter is fine. Anita Alvarez couldn’t make it stick if Trotter was recorded on video like R. Kelly.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 7:25 pm
What kind of security work does one hire a 62 year old state senator to do?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 7:37 pm
Willy - I’m going hunting this weekend, but Stonefire on Monday — I’m buying ? ?
Comment by Todd Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:04 pm
Will you take a rain check? Rich will vouch, my Marker is good.
Fair?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:10 pm
{Quinn — the security and dectives act has a preemption clause, they are exempt form any local gun regulations including the chicago CFP and registration requirements}
By the way, according to the Chicago Police Department, while Trotter did have a firearm owners identification card, required by state law, and a permanent employee registration card, required to work as a security guard or private detective, he did not register his handgun in Chicago.
“Even police officers who live in Chicago are required to register their guns,” a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department said.
“Anyone who lives in the city and owns a gun is required to register that gun.”
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 12:01 am
I lurk here daily, but rarely comment, and while I’m probably as anti-gun as anyone, I just wanna express (#1) what an impressive and always honest ‘mensch’ Todd is and (#2) best wishes to Senator Trotter, who in my opinion is a 1st rate legislator, and respectful to all. The ‘knowingly’ requirement ought to send this down the tubes…
Comment by The Historian Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 3:50 am
Slogan:
“Donee Trotter for Congress- Is there a candidate of higher caliber?”
Comment by Anon Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 5:45 am
Quinn –
The city tried forcing private security and detectives to do that, it went to court and they lost. they came back to the legislature and tried to change the law and it went nowhere. The City spokesman is wrong.
Comment by Todd Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 7:47 am
Todd, I actually read the ordinance before posting that and there appears to be a clear exception for security and detectives, but I wondered if they found another enforcement mechanism (business license) to coerce compliance.
I thought you would be able to clear that up for me.
While its certainly not the first time a city spokesman provided erroneous information, in this case is it possible that they are at least partly correct?
Due to the employer/employee relationship with CPD personnel is it possible they are requiring compliance for CPD as a condition of employment?
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 8:31 am
I think the “knowingly” requirement here is much more shaky than in the case of the flight attendent. Trotter knew the gun was in the bag because he put it there, just hours before he knew he would be boarding a plane. I’m not saying he wanted to take the gun on the plane because I don’t know if he did or did not, but he knew it was there…or should have known. Is “I forgot” a valid defense? I guess that will be up to the judge or jury.
Another concern I haven’t seen brought up is was that bag with the gun in it ever in the Capitol? If he went from session to a meeting to his security job, did he stop at home and get the gun before going to the security job, or did he have it with him all day? I really hate to think about an unsecured gun in the Capitol.
Comment by NMS Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 8:35 am
====I’m never asked those questions when I’m not checking a bag.===
They also ask you that when they pull you aside for further inspection at the security checkpoints (like when a gun shows up in the x-ray), not just when you’re checking your bag.
Comment by Knowing vs. Not Knowing Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 9:32 am
World according to Todd-
“Guy says he didn’t do it….let him go.”
Got it, Thanks.
Comment by Lobo Y Olla Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 11:01 am