If you look at the Press Release page of the Transportation Security Administration’s website, it seems as if nearly every day there’s at least one person who has gotten caught at the TSA security checkpoint with a gun in their carry on bag. Worse, more often than not, the gun is loaded.
Many people who bring a loaded gun into their carry on bag do so as a mistake. They say they forgot it’s there. Personally, I don’t know how anyone could “forget” a gun is in their backpack, computer case, rollaboard or whatever other bag they have with them. Especially if they KNOW what the rules are. But that’s what they say.
What happens when a passenger is caught with a gun at an airport can vary. As we discussed in an earlier post, different people are treated differently when they’re found to have a gun at the TSA checkpoint.
Actor and Comedian Mike Epps recently learned that the hard way, when he was going through Indianapolis International Airport and was discovered to have a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber pistol loaded with four rounds in his backpack. TSA officers quickly called the airport police.
Epps is an Indianapolis native who was in town for a comedy show at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. In his case, he wasn’t arrested, but the police did take his firearm.
He posted a video on his Instagram account about the unfortunate event, but it was later taken down. In the now-deleted video, Epps told fans he “had a long night” in Indianapolis and simply forgot about the firearm.
The video was re-posted on several YouTube sites.
Says epps: “Shoutout to all my fans out there and wanna apologize if you’re seeing any negativity about a gun charge at an airport. I had a long night, I had a show in my hometown and I literally forgot that I had my pistol in my bag,.
“Now if you wanna know why I carry a gun, I carry money all the time, I be having jewelry on, and these dudes is out here robbing people.
“So I wanna make sure I make it clear that I ain’t out here doing nothing wrong but I keep a gun on me because I gotta protect myself. Sometimes I’m not with my security. So just wanna let y’all know that I’m still on some positive vibes. And sorry that it happened. All I can tell you is that the world is crazy. Stay strapped.”
Although Epps wasn’t arrested, he could still face charges.
Besides his standup comedy, Epps has dozens of movie and television appearances under his belt. He’s best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and the sequel-to-the-sequel, Friday After Next, and also starring alongside Ice Cube in All About The Benjamins. He’s next set to make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in the film “Madame Web” starring Dakota Johnson.
Feature Image: TSA
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2 comments
I don’t understand Mike Epps approach to self defense with a gun. So he’s walking around with his gun in his backpack and these armed dudes come up to him to rob him of his jewelry. Assuming he even remembers there was a gun in his backpack, how is he supposed to draw it in time to do himself any good? And how can it be so important for him to carry a loaded gun that he is aware of it at all times (in case he needs it) but suddenly gets amnesia when arrives at airport security? Where did he think it was? If he doesn’t know where his loaded gun is at all times then he’s not in control of it and is a negligent gun owner.
Don’t blame him for wanting to carry a weapon, especially in the cities, crime is getting really bad. Plus the Police are demoralized and are retiring or moving to places where they’re appreciated. Only going to get worse when the warm weather and lack of people who wants to be in law enforcement. Sad that he feels like he needs to be armed to be protected.