A Dangerous Place

According to reliable Hill sources, a staffer for freshman Sen. Jim Webb (D.-Va.) was arrested earlier today when he tried to pass through security carrying a bag containing a pistol and a quantity of ammunition. Capitol Police apparently broadcast the arrest on their personal radios and then went quiet. Carrying a handgun and trying to penetrate Senate security with it is a rather serious felony.
This one is a real head-scratcher. The U.S. Congress is famous for exempting itself from its own laws but this incident is puzzling on at least two levels. One, the last time ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣ read the second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution it stated in part: "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." True enough, the amendment is routinely violated, ignored and subverted but the "suspect" in this incident is an aide to a U.S. Senator. Secondly, this staffer works for a member of the current Senate majority and members of that political party (Democrat) are historically given considerable latitude by the Police e.g. Cynthia McKinney, Joe and Ted Kennedy et al.
One can only speculate on the scenario had the staffer been in the employ of Trent Lott (R MS).

Phillip Thompson was carrying the bag through exray security at the Russell Senate Office building while the senator was parking his car, according to a Senate staffer cited by the Drudge Report.

"Thompson was booked for carrying a pistol without a license and for possessing unregistered ammunition, the staffer said."
And what pray tell constitutes "unregistered" ammunition?

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Update: 08:05 AM 27 Mar. 2007

Earlier reports indicating that members of Congress are NOT exempt from the rules governing possession of firearms on federal property were inaccurate. Congress has in fact as usual exempted itself from the prohibition.