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Dealing With America’s Confusing Gun Laws

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    Tea Party Patriots Co-Founder Mark Meckler on the confusing gun laws across America.

  • Duration 6:22
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Has its own laws and you have to Obey the laws of your state but.

If you travel in America you know what the law -- in my town.

In every state in America well not an Illinois most every state.

Every other state it's now legal to carry a handgun if you have a permit for -- carry it with -- when millions of Americans still.

In 49 states but there are so many different rules about exactly.

Where it's legal to carry that hundreds of well meaning people people try to do the right thing -- jail.

Because they didn't know the gun law here where there.

The one of those people is mark mettler mark what happened to you.

On December 15 of last year I was traveling I come to New York regularly and I was actually to -- Tea Party activists pile on the Tea Party activists have been involved in the movement -- Becky got the gun in the carry permit because some people -- like Tea Party activists he wanted to defend yourself my family was receiving threats and so we -- -- would be good idea to protect ourselves.

All right see you live in California and -- going to Virginian.

I was on my way to Virginia actually for shooting Christmas party in Virginia.

And I stopped off in new York and I was transiting through new York and I was checking in at LaGuardia at about 5 in the morning on December 15 he took a flight to New York got off stayed in the hotel went back.

To -- the region exactly.

Went to the airport like evidence so many times all across the country and went through the process of checking in now with an unloaded handgun in a locked case and that -- -- they have the special TSA approved locked case that's up to like this that's at the TSA requires a hard sided case with -- okay.

He had that I have that I walked up to the counter and asked for -- handgun declaration form which I've done all over the country.

And filled it out and gave it to the ticket agent she said she was gonna call the Port Authority police over which is common to have been inspected it's different in every airport.

And the police came over and they asked me.

If that was my firearm I said yes they asked me if I had a permit -- in New York City I said no and they said they're placing me under us.

And you went to jail.

-- not only went to jail the right there allegory.

In front of her body they put my hands behind my back handcuffed me.

Did the perp walk out to the squad car and stuff me in the back of -- squad turned to me -- Charge you with a felony carrying -- concealed weapon with intent to do harm.

Did you intend to do -- -- -- and they and they presented no evidence that I intended to do harm it's also interesting John because in New York apparently.

Carrying means in a locked case in your luggage and loaded means that you have a hand yen and you have ammunition somewhere.

But I was never actually carrying it was never never actually loaded it was an unloaded weapon locked in a TSA approved -- and as you went to court you say the the law enforcement officials were.

Laughing about how stupid this -- They're actually more frustrated that this was going on and when I got I got booked in Queens central in the booking officer was furious because he -- they have real criminals to -- with -- real problems.

And having to process a guy like me through the system doesn't make any sense.

And as far as the disruption to your life of prosecutors told her lawyer it's no big deal no big deal and my lawyer responded you know you can get to talk to his wife -- 6 in the morning.

-- gotten the call 3 in the morning California time that -- husband was in jail in New York City.

-- let's go to a similar case amid student from Tennessee went to the 9/11 memorial here in new York and saw no -- signs so she.

Asked the police where she could check her.

-- her license on the police incentive.

Taking her going and checking -- explaining to her that you've been licensed guns are illegal in the city.

Charge sure with a felony that comes with -- a -- minimum three and a half year jail term.

My beloved mayor Michael Bloomberg has become something of an anti gun zealot was ask whether the -- student should.

Get a break he responded with a good example of political arrogance.

I don't know I don't know why anybody doesn't know what you're state laws are we've talked about it and testify.

You've been quite yet but soon she didn't get arrested for pentagon.

She probably would have gotten a message for the cocaine was.

How how high are -- there was laughing but what's funny.

The police reported there was might soften her pocket -- there assumed it was cocaine turn out to be asked for.

Three months later after lots of media criticism the prosecutor dropped to felony charge she paid a fine of 200 bucks.

But the prosecutor could have wrecked her life.

And this happens often.

It happens according to my attorney over 300 times a year here in new York and all of those people are people who are trying to abide by the laws -- Who are carrying guns according to legal permits and in people like me who declare them at the airports.

-- you know Bloomberg laughs about it the prosecutor said it's no big deal John I can tell you.

When you feel those handcuffs close on your wrists.

You understand that thin line between liberty and -- and -- serious situation.

And it.

In addition to arrogance I would -- the nurses sizzle of politicians -- everyone must know what our.

Very different laws are.

You know I'll have lives they don't read the laws and every new place I'm a lawyer and I actually researched the laws when I travel with my anger and and I research state laws I had no idea that cities had individual laws and the reality is.

The cities across the country can do this -- there really is no Second Amendment because it's impossible for any individual to know the laws in every city and those laws.

Are constantly changing so not -- cannot know them.

But they change every day.

Mayor Bloomberg said these laws are important there are just too many guns in the streets we have to do something about it keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

So I'd like to ask the mayor what purpose was served how did we make New York City safer.

By arresting and -- somebody like me or somebody like Meredith graves the reality is it's an illegal she's an educational.

John.

Paul Mayor Bloomberg we invite you on the show to answer his question I hope you'll come to thank you mark --

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