Boston Celtics' legend Bill Russell stands with his Presidential Medal of Freedom during the NBA All-Star basketball game in Los Angeles, in this file February 20, 2011 photo.
Credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok
Reuters
Transportation Security Administration officials found a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun in a male passenger's carry-on bag on Wednesday evening, according to a TSA spokeswoman. The man was traveling to Boston.
An airport spokesman, in a recorded telephone message, identified the passenger as Russell, the 79-year-old National Basketball Association Hall of Famer, who lives in the Seattle area.
The TSA spokeswoman said the gun contained six rounds. TSA contacted Port of Seattle police, who cited Russell for having a weapon in a prohibited area, a state violation, the airport message said. The firearm was confiscated, and Russell was released.
Firearms are prohibited in carry-on baggage. They may be carried unloaded in checked baggage and stored in a locked, hard-sided container, according to the TSA.
A representative for Russell could not be reached for comment.
Russell had been a star with the Boston Celtics in the 1950s and 60s, and was named NBA most valuable player five times. He later served as coach of the Seattle SuperSonics during the 1970s.
He's getting too old to safely use a gun anyway. The penalty should be complete loss of gun rights for life.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
"Russell reportedly had a permit for the weapon, which was confiscated. KIRO-TV reported that Russell, who has since been released, was cited by the Port of Seattle for carrying a weapon in a prohibited area and that the TSA will assess a monetary penalty."
ReplyDeletehttp://nba.si.com/2013/10/18/bill-russell-arrested-boston-celtics-gun-airport/?xid=si_nba
One of the perks of being a celebrity I suppose. Cant have him sitting in jail like a certain gentleman from Gun Barrel, Texas.
Good news Mike, you can now safely include the term Lawful Carry Permit Holder in the title of your post.
ReplyDelete"While Russell had a carry permit for the loaded .38-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver, bringing it into a prohibited area resulted in the gun being confiscated, and Russell being issued a citation. The Transportation Security Administration also indicated he could be fined up to $7,500."
http://www.examiner.com/article/bill-russell-arrest-shows-even-doctrinaire-obama-supporters-value-guns
Yeah, sometimes it comes out, more by chance than by any consistent examination of the records. That's how you keep you stats looking so good.
DeleteOf course, the chances that Mr. Russell will lose his permit and become one of the statistics is pretty low. Which means that the quality of your vast majority of permit holders who don't lose their permits is a lot lower than you pretend.
Citing records from state police agencies isn't pretending. You're pretending that facts don't matter.
DeleteWe've explained how multiple states handle their permit process and how this contradicts your representation, but that doesn't matter to you. You have spoken, and therefore you must be right.
DeleteSadly, Mike, you've lied to yourself, as well as everyone else, so much that you wouldn't see the truth if it stared you in the face.
T., we're not even talking about how they handle their permitting process. We're talking about how they come up with the bizarre statistics that so few of them ever do anything wrong.
DeleteNo worries, Obama will get him off.
ReplyDeleteorlin sellers
Years ago drunk drivers got off pretty easy. People with gun charges should get tougher sentences. Start with making an example of this celebrity. He can well afford the top fine.
ReplyDeleteHow is he too old? Is there any group that you won't discriminate against in your zeal for gun control?
ReplyDeleteAt 79, most people are too old to safely use firearms. That's why I propose a periodic test of their abilities including eye sight and reflexes.
DeleteAnd I propose that we reject most everything you want.
Delete