"Documents: Marine on Capitol grounds had 2 loaded guns, 114 live rounds"

2015-08-07T09:59:24-04:00

From: Stars & Stripes

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) — The Marine Corps congressional fellow arrested Tuesday on Capitol grounds was carrying two loaded guns, 114 rounds of live ammunition, a military ballistic vest and two knives in his car, court documents state.

Gunnery Sgt. Peter James Boby pleaded not guilty Wednesday to three misdemeanor charges in D.C. Superior Court. His wrists and ankles were shackled during the brief arraignment. Boby, who wore a plaid shirt and jeans, was released from custody on his personal recognizance. He told CQ Roll Call he had no comment on the case.

Court documents state that Boby approached a Capitol Police barricade on C Street SW at approximately 2:07 p.m. Tuesday, in a blue sedan with North Carolina plates. An officer noticed a “green metal military style ammunition box” in the trunk, according to court documents that provide a detailed account of the arrest, and discovered a handgun inside the box.

The officer asked Boby and his female passenger, identified as Elizabeth McCullough, to exit the vehicle. Another officer placed Boby and McCullough in handcuffs.

Both admitted to knowing there was a gun in the trunk and said they had just come from the range, according to the documents. They asked the officer if they could “leave the scene and take the gun home.”

Two crime scene search officers responded to the scene and began investigating. They discovered a Glock .45 semi-automatic handgun in the glove compartment, with one magazine containing 13 live rounds and an empty chamber.

In the trunk, further investigation of the ammunition box revealed a Kimber .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun with one magazine with six live rounds and an empty chamber, plus seven additional magazines, containing 34 live rounds; two Glock 13-round .45 auto magazines, one with 13 live rounds, the other with 11 live rounds; and one box of Blazer ammunition containing 37 live .45 automatic rounds.

Police also found a military ballistic vest containing five empty .223 magazines in the trunk, an empty Glock handgun box and two knives. Boby has no license to carry a handgun in D.C., according to the police. Both guns appeared to be operable.

The D.C. Office of the Attorney General is prosecuting the case. Boby faces three misdemeanor charges related to the weapons. He is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 23.

Joe Kasper, a spokesman for Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said the office hopes Boby can come back to work. He emphasized that the weapons were registered properly elsewhere, and that Boby has been “a top notch performer” since he started working as a fellow in January.

Capitol Police began conducting additional security screening at the garages last summer, in the wake of two incidents that cast campus security in a new light. In July 2014, police found a 9 mm handgun in the bag of Ryan Shucard, press secretary for Rep. Tom Marino, R-Pa. Five days later, police arrested South Carolina pork executive Ronald Prestage at another Cannon door after finding a loaded 9 mm handgun inside an ankle holster in his briefcase.

During last August’s recess, Capitol Police began enforcing the new ID-check policy at the House garages. When a car pulls up, officers check for the requisite parking stickers and ask every passenger to show credentials. Any passenger older than 18 who is without a congressional ID is required to exit the vehicle prior to its entry into the garage and enter through pedestrian doors equipped with X-ray machines and magnetometers.

The change was one effort to “tighten security” at the House garages. Staffers complained it was inconvenient and ineffective.

Capitol officials have announced further security changes are underway to enhance screening of staffers who park in the garages.

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/documents-marine-on-capitol-grounds-had-2-loaded-guns-114-live-rounds-1.361645

Documents: Marine on Capitol grounds had 2 loaded guns, 114 live rounds

The Marine Corps congressional fellow arrested Tuesday on Capitol grounds was carrying two loaded guns, 114 rounds of live ammunition, a military ballistic vest and two knives in his car, court documents state.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 10:04 AM

2015-08-07T10:04:00-04:00

Thank you for that fine negative publicity. Lock him and hit him with the book. I fail to understand why people can't follow simple rules. I am a firm believer in gun rights, but the law is the law, not a suggestion.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 7 at 2015 10:06 AM

2015-08-07T10:06:17-04:00

The "quantity" is not indicative of anything unusual. Although DC is extremely restrictive when it comes to gun laws, 114 rounds of ammunition is not a "large quantity" by any stretch. I carry 21 rounds on my person at any given time, and that's with a .45. Were I carrying a .40, that number would increase to 36. Were I carrying a 9mm, it would jump to 45-51. That's 3 magazines (including the one in the gun). When you have two guns, just double those numbers.

If I go to the range, I have 300-500 rounds easily.

Response by Sgt Tom Vaughn made Aug 7 at 2015 10:12 AM

2015-08-07T10:12:45-04:00

A good citizen , role model using his 2nd amendment rights
Lol and I use to go to the capital and White House armed with a 1911
Ok ok I was on duty , but I guess those capital police and uniformed SS won't go nuts and start shoot huh
And I know from experience the capital police, park olive, DC metro police, and uniformed SS , sometimes take they're jobs way over board , including the use of force , I understand there are rules , but if you checked Dianne Feinstein and her office personnel as well as Prlosis ? They are all armed

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 7 at 2015 10:26 AM

2015-08-07T10:26:15-04:00

So let me see if I got this right. The Marine decides to take his girlfriend/wife/whatever out for a fun day at the range. Being a hard charging Marine, he takes his body armor with him to train as he fights. They have a great day out shooting some weapons and then decide that it's a great day to tour the Capital. Not to waste a great day, they decided to drive straight from the range to DC, a location where people are ready to launch a small task force against a bug striking the windshield of the Presidential limo, with their weapons and ammo in their vehicle.

Yep, that's a smart decision.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 7 at 2015 10:37 AM

2015-08-07T10:37:33-04:00

I'm on the fence with this. I was on the local news, and I can see where a mistake could happen, but I also see where this mistake should've been prevented. 1. I'm not sure if he was stationed locally, so if he was somewhere else and them came here, he wouldn't always be familiar with local weapon laws. That's giving him the benefit of the doubt. If the passenger was from around here, she should've informed him that they needed to do this another day and to take the weapons home. 2. As a leader, he should know the local laws in regards to the concealment and movement of weapons. That would make this failure his, and his alone. I'm sure he would counsel his junior Marines the same way. I'm not from NY, NJ, or MD, but even I know that I better not be caught with a weapon there...even with my concealed permit. Jailtime, no...a severe slap on the wrist, yes.

Response by SSgt Lawrence Good made Aug 7 at 2015 11:36 AM

2015-08-07T11:36:11-04:00

Just one more case of disarming someone they have every reason to believe is a good guy who can be part of the solution, rather than doing anything effective about the bad guys. "Only Ones" mentality at its finest.

Response by Capt Lance Gallardo made Aug 7 at 2015 11:56 AM

2015-08-07T11:56:35-04:00

This should have been handled administratively-NOT criminally. Another signpost along the way that the Anti-Gun Agenda Folks want to show you that their laws are having any effect at stopping crime. meanwhile the Gun Murder Rate and Criminal Gun Use by actual criminals is off the hook in Washington DC (not capitol hill), Chicago, Baltimore, and LA. All cities that have strict Gun laws. Just goes to show the penalties for illegal gun carry and gun use are do not deter the people that are actually committing the major violent crimes using guns. Most strict Gun Laws in Urban areas only disarm the people who are willing to actually obey the law. No matter how misguided.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Aug 7 at 2015 12:26 PM

2015-08-07T12:26:25-04:00

Absurd. In the Roman Republic citizens bore their arms. As control became centralized the Legionaries were prohibited from doing so. Only the Lictors bore weapons and the most powerful politicians had bodyguards of lictors. As control centralized the Praetorian guards (the teeth added on top of Lictors) became more and more oppressive against all citizens in the capital city. As opposed to the countryside. I'm just saying that's what happened in Rome.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Aug 7 at 2015 12:34 PM

2015-08-07T12:34:33-04:00

Entering Capitol grounds with a weapon is a no-no and understandably so. At least they are misdemeanors and not felonies. A dumb mistake shouldn't carry a heavy sentence.

Response by CW2 John Brookins made Aug 7 at 2015 1:39 PM

2015-08-07T13:39:48-04:00

While I completely disagree with the DC gun laws, They are well known. I worked just outside of the beltway and would have never dreamed of crossing that border with a weapon unless on some official duty where weapons were authorized. It's not worth the pain. This sounds like it was just dumb. Maybe he just assumed he'd never be checked.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 7 at 2015 3:08 PM

2015-08-07T15:08:48-04:00

Not smart.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 8:18 AM

2015-08-11T08:18:05-04:00

I see something else worth commenting on here: Let me first state the obvious...the Gunnery Sergeant wasn't exercising good judgement. DC, NYC, and "high profile" locations of a similar legal and political status are simply too regulated to take the chance. On the other hand, these are exactly the sort of "targets" where terrorists may launch an attach...or civil unrest lead to a dangerous crisis. Some commenters have pointed out that he broke the rules...I can't disagree with that. Neither will I disagree with those suggesting his actions portray responsible gun owners in a bad light. However, I will tell you that recent events down the road from me had me thinking more about my own security on the "homefront". Let's assume for a moment that none of what Gunny had in his trunk was illegal...for example, in Chattanooga. If, as someone with experience and training, you truly believe you may be targeted by jihadists looking up OIF/OEF vets online...or that the city you work in might explode at any moment...does body armor sound impractical? How about two firearms, combat load for both and a "last resort" such a fixed blade combat knife (Marines still carry the K-Bar, right?). My own feelings, for what they are worth, are these...the government spends a lot of money and time training some of us to competently operate in and among civil population abroad carrying as standard equipment, the M4, the M9, sufficient ammo to sustain a fire-fight, and the individual protective armor to survive it. I see no reason why mentally healthy, reasonably fit veterans shouldn't be encouraged to maintain readiness towards being an "instant asset" to augment regular forces in such a crisis. If someone has a more mature/experienced viewpoint countering that...I'm willing to listen, but to my mind, we don't become less trustworthy just because we're back on home turf.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 8:27 PM

2015-08-13T20:27:21-04:00

This reminds me of an incident I was involved in several years ago.

I was on active duty and assigned to USEUCOM headquarters, yes I was a staff REMF. I am a licensed German hunter and sport shooter. My weapons were registered with the German government and USAREUR as required.

One Sunday morning I was returning to Patch Barracks from the local shooting range. As fate would have it, the local national security guards randomly picked my vehicle to search. I opened all of the doors, hood etc as required. My rifle was sitting in plain view on the back seat of the vehicle.
The two local hire contract guards searched my vehicle and said you may pass. I am not happy, I have a weapon on the seat, and they don’t even ask me about it… WTF! I ask them, you don’t have anything to say about the weapon on the seat? Probably should have just driven on, but trying to do the right thing. Next thing I know I have a young MP with his hand on his weapon. I produce my weapons registration card etc… Bottom line it was a mess.

Here we have a career Marine, working for a congressman in Washington DC, returning from an outing at the firing range only to be arrested, harassed etc. WHY?

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 15 at 2015 4:46 AM

2015-08-15T04:46:56-04:00

I've already seen this story elsewhere here on RP, but what I pretty much said was this:

I can't believe that one has to register their ammunition, and can only own ammunition that goes with their also registered hand and/or long gun. That's the first thing that stuck out to me.

Secondly, I truly believe this was just a dumb mistake on the Gunny's part. I'm almost 100% certain he knew he wasn't supposed to be transporting those weapons in DC, but was probably thinking "I'll never get caught." I do not think he had nefarious intentions.