Source: Bowers’ Gun Wasn’t Loaded
February 18th, 2013
More details are emerging in what has to be one of the most foolish moves by a Buccaneer in a long time.
Per the New York Post, Da’Quan Bowers’ gun arrest today was at a US Air ticket counter but the “loaded” gun wasn’t really loaded.
A muscle-bound NFL lineman was busted at LaGuardia Airport today for packing a loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol.
Da’Quan Bowers – a second-year defensive end for the Tampa bay Buccaneers – was arrested at 11 a.m. at a US Air ticket counter as he was about to board a plane for North Carolina.
Sources believe Bowers arrived in New York with the gun on Friday, and was carrying the piece and a clip with eight rounds in a carry-on bag.
“The two of them were in the same bag, under the law it’s considered a loaded gun,” the source said.
Joe gets tight gun laws, but calling a weapon loaded when it’s not ridiculous. What next? Could Joe claim he fornicated with Rachel Watson when Joe and she only shook hands?
February 18th, 2013 at 7:55 pm
I do not believe NY state law makes any distinction between a loaded gun and a gun that is CAPABLE of being loaded. That means that even if he was carrying the gun in an approved case, if the clip was in there with it, he’d still have been arrested.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Like I just said, in the previous thread…
Bowers is the very definition of a Buccaneer man I’d be very very very surprised if this was anything but an honest mistake. He’s a good kid with very high character.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:01 pm
That could have been really serious, not that this isn’t.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:05 pm
So- the gun does not have any ammunition in it, but because the clips are in the same state- it’s loaded.
It’s why I Visit that state only when necessary.
Don’t excuse Bowers. The Law is the Law. Just personally don’t like laws that seem designed to “trick” the law abiding, and protect those with criminal intent
February 18th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
It is the same as being loading….it takes 2seconds to put a clip in….DUH !
Next people will want to carry box cutters on the plane…..what kind of dumbass doesn’t know this ???
February 18th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Liberals are destroying this country in leaps and bounds. Maybe they will wake up when there is nothing left for them to take or they run out of other people’s money. Obama or his Children don’t go anywhere without armed guards including their schools. It’s good enough for them but not for you.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Okay new interview questions for nfl players should be would you bring a Gun on a airplane? Next question for freeman is it wise to shoot guns during the nfl season? Aka Hurt thumb.. Its sad but we may have to resort to this…
February 18th, 2013 at 8:13 pm
I’d hate to say this but I think they lied about it being loaded because of this man’s color. The Justice department and the Court system are the most racist and bias part of this country.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:20 pm
Now, that Bowers may have just dodged that proverbial bullet in the chamber scenario, we can all take in that collective “sigh”. Not that there isn’t more to this story, it’s just I’m now convinced, it will get swept away with a few fiscally gifted handshakes.
Move on folks, nothing to see here. …:)
February 18th, 2013 at 8:20 pm
Joe…don’t leave us to speculate.
Call Metcalf Law…one of those guys will tell you the exact way the law deals with this situation in NY, or could find out in a few minutes.
Do you guys get much National news? NY is really paranoid about people from other states bringing guns in NY, circumventing their gun laws. I still hope that as he seems to have been forthright in his admission of having the weapon, that they reduce the charges.
Raphael…true. Pick up, click, click and it is loaded. What, about 5 seconds at the most?
February 18th, 2013 at 8:24 pm
4ever…read Joe’s entire story. In NY, it counts as loaded when the clip with bullets and gun are in the same vicinity. The only clarification was that it is viewed as such under the law, when truthfully the clip wasn’t in the gun. Here again, hope for lesser charges. No “handshake, wink wink” on this one. It isn’t Florida…it is New York and is public knowledge. People in NY will be watching.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:28 pm
The information I’m now getting is that Bowers took the gun in his carry-on and alerted the agent that the gun was there. The gun was not discovered by security. More info is sure to follow. In the meantime, it might be nice to know what the proper procedures are. Reading is fundamental!
http://www.ammoland.com/2009/11/transporting-handguns-ammunition-on-commercial-airlines/#axzz2LIdy5NjO
February 18th, 2013 at 8:34 pm
Take off your freakin Bucs glasses off for a second and stop acting like this isn’t a big deal. The man had the means to use a firearm at 30,000 feet, and should be held accountable. Had this been an everyday citizen, or god forbid an Arab *gasp* people would be calling for his head. You can say he’s a good kid and all this stuff but he made the worst mistake of his life today, and he needs to own it.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Nic – gotta call BS on your “The man had the means to use a firearm at 30,000 feet” comment. He checked into the airline and told them that he was traveling with a firearm in his checked luggage. That is certainly not boarding an aircraft, or even trying to get past security, with a weapon.
Also, as I stated in an other thread, this is a fairly common occurrence in NY airports. The available facts indicate that he was following the standard airline rules. The issue is that the standard airline rules are not legal in NY.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:45 pm
Lol @ Nic
That is all
February 18th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Ignorance of the law isn’t an excuse.
February 18th, 2013 at 9:00 pm
BigMacAttack- you are exactly right.
It’s obvious that the recent victims of these “Spree killers”, were selected because they were locations that legally forbid firearms. The lawless killers could attack these innocent people, with no fear of being confronted by force.
You should always have the ability to defend yourself- especially when you are a Rich, famous, high profile target
But you gotta be responsible- and know the laws.
Hope this doesn’t end up ruining this fine young man’s life
February 18th, 2013 at 9:47 pm
Think about stupid laws like this before you bash the NrA. It’s dumb legislation like this that they help fight against. A clip and a gun in the same duffel bag is LOADED?? what? The gun could slide into his belt buckle… The ammo gets caught on a shoelace…. The bullets spill right into the gun……..
February 18th, 2013 at 11:15 pm
Adam- with ya 100% on that one
February 19th, 2013 at 9:13 am
Obviously, with the information that has come out since this article, my comment is grossly overblown. There is a huge difference between “carrying a loaded gun in your carry-on” and surrendering it of your own will, but this article made no mention of that. I appreciate you guys tearing my comment apart and talking down to me AFTER the situation became more clear.
February 19th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
No way around it
lol @ Nic
February 19th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
That’s why you don’t go jumping to conclusions before you get the facts straight.