Man arrested after weapons found in hotel room overlooking Chicago July 4 festivities, thoughts?

[jim97701]

MSN

does this warrant 2 felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon?.

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[Caveman Jim]

Only in Chitago…

 

[Cosmoline]

My personal take would be no. I don't know that any crime was committed here at all, but I'm not Chicago PD. Is it concerning? A little, not sure why he'd be leaving his guns to be stolen by hotel cleaning ladies.

Jokes aside, it looks bad, but I'm not sure how keen I am on calling this "unlawful use of a weapon" at all.

 

[Jason999]

Well... guns are illegal in the City without a moderately tough to get firearm owners identification card. Though if you are from out of state and have a concealed carry license then you may bring in and carry a firearm. Hes from Iowa, he does have a license there.

They can't prove he was going to be some kind of spree killer, so that will probably get dropped.

Hes stupid, what he did was reckless. What he did is also suspicious, but in the end they can't prove what his intentions were.

I'm sure they'll drop the current charges and stick him with something that has a chance of sticking, like the unsafe storage laws they have.

 

[gmerkt]

The article said he violated Illinois law by having firearms in state without a state Firearms Owner ID Card.

But from what I read, non-residents are not required to have an Ill. Firearms Owner ID Card if the may legally possess firearms in their home state. The article said he had a permit in Iowa to legally own firearms. However, when in Illinois, non-residents are required to store their firearms unloaded and kept in a case. So this is where he went wrong from a strictly legal standpoint. That's according to Illinois state law, I don't know about the City of Chicago.

Given the relatively recent rash of mass shootings, given the location in a high rise hotel downtown overlooking popular sites (which on surface seems to mimic the Las Vegas caper), given the nature of a holiday weekend with extra large crowds out and about, my view is that I can understand why law enforcement would take an interest in this on a preventive basis.

It cannot be denied that the suspect was pretty thoughtless about leaving guns laying about openly in his hotel room, at least one of which was loaded. Particularly on a window sill. When he wasn't present in the room and subject to hotel staff coming in.

It might just be that the hotel concerned has a no guns policy and their employees are advised to report any such that they may observe in the course of their duties.

 

[titsonritz]

 

[Alexx1401]

Given "media" who the hell knows. Now if he really did just take guns there and leave them out? Well play stupid games win stupid prizes. it's not like its hard to search for and find the laws there for guns. Now did he plan on doing something? Again who the hell knows. Bottom line for those who own guns and want to travel. Look up the local laws where you are going. I know when we stay in a hotel we have some guns with us. We DO NOT leave the room with the guns laying about for the cleaning staff to find.

 

[nwslopoke]

Well, at least they got their headlines.

 

[WillametteWill]

There is either more to this story or Chicago is just evil. Both are quite possible as is a combination of each option.

 

[revjen45]

"Given "media" who the hell knows."

Bingo!! Any resemblance between what you see in the media and the facts is purely unintentional and will not be allowed to happen again.

 

[bbbass]

Well, where was he supposed to lay his loaded firearms and mags? In Chiraq dontcha gotta be ready for anythin???

 

[bbbass]

My other thought is that apparently "Unlawful use of a firearm" can mean anything they want it to mean.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I thought when you were traveling your hotel room/RV etc. became your domicile.
And it's not like he ran out of gas on the highway and dared LE to knock the chip on his shoulder off.

 

[revjen45]

"My other thought is that apparently "Unlawful use of a firearm" can mean anything they want it to mean."

Like "Crime against Nature."

 

[Mikej]

Is this guy one of those dummies' that do stoopid bubblegum that make us responsible gun owners look bad?
He could be one of the Jamoke's that do the "Stoopid tricks with guns" stuff? Not really criminal, but people still get injured or die because of him. And then the rest of us get more restrictions/laws that must be followed.

 

[RVTECH]

What are your thoughts on this?

My first thought is he forgot to hang the 'do not disturb' sign on the doorknob.....

I can't imagine it was anything other than that. Hey a simple slip up can certainly open a 'can of worms' - look what a piece of black tape did at the Watergate hotel!

Heck I have had guns in hotel rooms many times however I never left them in plain sight and the 'do not disturb' sign was permanently left on the door knob.

 

[SrMachoSolo]

The hotel employee "likely prevented a tragedy from happening," (Chicago Police Superintendent) Brown said.

Guilty until proven innocent.

-Robert

 

[bbbass]

"My other thought is that apparently "Unlawful use of a firearm" can mean anything they want it to mean."

Like "Crime against Nature."

IMO that means what it sounds like.

But when did sheep and horses get into the story???

 

[ma96782]

From the article...

He's been charged with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, police said.

I guess the word "use" has been redefined?

Actually, I should just wait and see what is presented in court.

Aloha, Mark

PS.....I can remember that time, when someone decided to take up a spot (w/weapons) in a building under construction overlooking Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki. Mind you that the weapons were never fired or pointed in the direction of people.

Scary situation? Damm right!

And here is another one.

Police find large weapons cache in Waikiki raid prompted by disturbing online posts

The FBI and Honolulu police are investigating after finding a large cache of loaded weapons during a raid of a Waikiki hotel room that sources say was prompted by disturbing posts on social media.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

 

[nwslopoke]

Keeping the blind, blind is a great tactic. Know nothing reporters keep using scary words like arsenal and cache. They create scary narratives that lead to only one conclusion which almost never happens.

What does happen is the nut that's been on the police, FBI, CIA, Homeland security watch lists just happens to squeak by every time. The crazy felon from California gets a gun without bgc and kills again. Even though he promised the parole board he wouldn't.