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Originally Posted by Pami  My guess would be that he didn't have a concealed weapons permit:
I hope he gets a good lawyer. |
He could have my daughter's rat terrier for a lawyer and still win this one.
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KUSA - A Wyoming hunter who accidentally caused a security concern at the Grand Hyatt hotel Saturday said he's sorry for the problems he caused and didn't know the Democratic National Convention was in town.
When Joseph Calanchini walked into the Grand Hyatt hotel with 2 rifles and 2 pistols Saturday around 4:00 pm, Denver Police evacuated House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) from the hotel until they arrested Calanchini and made sure it was safe for Pelosi to return.
"I didn't even know the DNC was in town. I don't watch the news," said Joseph Calanchini from the Denver City Jail where he's being held on bond. "If I had known, I would have done things differently. It was a simple mistake."
Calanchini, who talked to 9Wants to Know from the Denver City Jail, says he had the weapons because he's getting ready to go on a hunting safari trip in Limpopo Basin, South Africa on August 28. He planned to hunt warthog, impala, baboon and jackals with a friend there.
He says he had just picked up his rifles from the Sportsman's Warehouse and had them in a locked gun case when he checked in at the Grand Hyatt. The clerk checking him in noticed the rifle case and called security.
"I'm amazed. It's not like they were illegal weapons, they were all registered to me," said Calanchini. "It was bad timing."
Police say Calanchini had permits for the rifles, but did not have concealed permits to carry two pistols that were found in his luggage. Calanchini says he forgot they were in there.
He was charged with unlawfully carry weapons, a misdemeanor. Calanchini is being held on $10,000 bond at the Denver City Jail.
"I didn't mean to cause any problems," said Calanchini. "I'm sorry, it was not intentional."
Calanchini, who is registered as an independent, says he doesn't know who he's going to vote for yet.
"Would this affect my choice as a candidate? No. There's more important issues than this," said Calanchini.
The 29-year-old man from Pinedale, Wyoming, has never been arrested before. He says he's hunted for several years in places like Canada, California and Wyoming. He planned the safari to South Africa with a friend in June.
He says the U.S. Secret Service interviewed him for an hour and a half on Saturday to make sure he's not a threat.
"They know I'm not trying to do anything," he said.
Calanchini, who sells drilling tools across Colorado and Wyoming, said he is a frequent guest at the Grand Hyatt.
But the Grand Hyatt General Manager said he was not a registered guest at the hotel.
"We don't know why he was walking through our hotel," said General Manager Ed Bucholtz.
After police searched and towed Calanchini's car, they allowed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) back into the hotel.
"The speaker was never in any danger. And she appreciates the quick and professional response of the police," said Brendon Daly, Pelosi spokesman.
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OK, so a lot going on here:
He didn't know the DNC was in town? OK, I don't watch much news either, but even I knew that.
He's going on safari and had two rifles and two pistols. OK, easy enough to prove if he has the tickets and arrangements made. Um, how do you "forget" two pistols in your luggage, though?
I also wonder who's lying: He just checked in; in fact, the clerk who checked him in is the one who ratted him out for carrying the rifle case, but the gen. mgr. says he's not a registered guest there? Which is it? I'm thinking the evidence points to the hotel mgr. trying to cover his own and his hotel's collective butts.
The weapons were, "all registered to [him]" That's a problem. Guns shouldn't have to be registered to anyone. Still, "unlawfully carrying weapons" is a misdemeanor and yet he's held on $10K bond? Seriously?
Ten Thousand dollars for a misdemeanor? What was that that I read somewhere... oh yes.
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
And yet despite all this, it's not going to affect his choice for President because, "There's more important issues than this." Can anyone say "useful idiot"? As much as I dislike (and will refrain from using) the common term for it, this person is a hunter who cares nothing for liberty.
Personally, I think I'm disgusted with both sides of this one.
Blessings,
B