Dennis Farina Arrested At LAX

[A beaker full of death]

I feel the need to ask but were these crimes due to race?

I ask because I'm aware of your race as well as your faith as well as being aware that in certain parts of this area neither is warmly accepted.

Basically what I'm asking is, could those crimes be biased ones?

No, I'm pretty confident they weren't, simply because everybody there went through it. When someone isn't coming into the neighborhood to rile things up (and people rarely came up to Washington Heights to do that), we all got along pretty well. You called it "multicultural"; the term I remember best is "melting pot". Poverty knows no boundries; when you're up each other's asses 24x7 race and religion don't become the primary issues, I guess, unless and until something sets things off. I saw my share of riots, but even then, no one was safe.
That's the biggest distinction I'm finding now that I don't live there any more. It's the people who don't have other people, or races, or religions in their faces 24x7 that have no idea how to relate to others, and tend to overreact and stereotype. I can walk through any poor neighborhood in America. It's the rich enclaves that scare the shit out of me.

 

[exodus]

I feel the need to ask but were these crimes due to race?

I ask because I'm aware of your race as well as your faith as well as being aware that in certain parts of this area neither is warmly accepted.

Basically what I'm asking is, could those crimes be biased ones?

No, I'm pretty confident they weren't, simply because everybody there went through it. When someone isn't coming into the neighborhood to rile things up (and people rarely came up to Washington Heights to do that), we all got along pretty well. You called it "multicultural"; the term I remember best is "melting pot". Poverty knows no boundries; when you're up each other's asses 24x7 race and religion don't become the primary issues, I guess, unless and until something sets things off. I saw my share of riots, but even then, no one was safe.
That's the biggest distinction I'm finding now that I don't live there any more. It's the people who don't have other people, or races, or religions in their faces 24x7 that have no idea how to relate to others, and tend to overreact and stereotype. I can walk through any poor neighborhood in America. It's the rich enclaves that scare the shit out of me.

I understand & agree.

 

[JGordon]

I used to carry a 3-inch long pocketknife in one of my backpacks, in a pocket I almost never used. Not a harmless looking victorinox one, but a very sharp, spear-point blade. It was nice to have handy, because a knife is a very useful tool. To speak to the sorry state of airport security in this country, I once unintentionally took this backpack, knife included, through THREE SEPARATE AIRPORT'S SECURITY CHECKPOINTS without getting stopped. This was even post-9/11. I've always been slightly freaked out by airport security since then. When I was emptying my bag at one of the hotels, I found the knife and freaked out. Needless to say, I put it in my checked baggage after that.

Apostle, you are not the only one in this thread that believes in the right to bear arms. I also have a license for concealed carry. I live in Downtown Denver, and while certainly not as dangerous as Beaker's growing up in DC, I've had several scary experiences and know several people who have been robbed at gun- or knife-point, several who have been beaten, and one who was shot at for no particular reason. Walking around late at night, it is nice to know that I can protect myself and my friends and family should the need arise.

Do all firearms in CA need to be registered? Here in CO, there is no requirement to register firearms. I'm also surprised that he is only carrying a .22, that is much more of a target firearm than a self-defense firearm. Maybe he had taken it to a range for some fun and accidentally left it in his breifcase?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I used to carry a 3-inch long pocketknife in one of my backpacks, in a pocket I almost never used. Not a harmless looking victorinox one, but a very sharp, spear-point blade. It was nice to have handy, because a knife is a very useful tool. To speak to the sorry state of airport security in this country, I once unintentionally took this backpack, knife included, through THREE SEPARATE AIRPORT'S SECURITY CHECKPOINTS without getting stopped. This was even post-9/11. I've always been slightly freaked out by airport security since then. When I was emptying my bag at one of the hotels, I found the knife and freaked out. Needless to say, I put it in my checked baggage after that.

Twice I've accidentally left a Swiss Army Knife in my bag. The first time, it was confiscated (just as well as it was getting worn down). The second time (about a year or so later) it wasn't caught. Same airport, I think.

 

[A beaker full of death]

Beaker's growing up in DC

Washington Heights, New York. It's the part of Manhattan just north of Harlem and south of Inwood.

Do all firearms in CA need to be registered?

There is no registration requirement in CA for handguns. Conceal carry permits are damn near impossible to get.

On a tangent, I only just heard today that the national guard was ordered to confiscate civilian firearms during the aftermath of Katrina. I find this appalling and frightening.

See http://www.reason.com/news/show/32966.html

 

[exodus]

Apostle, you are not the only one in this thread that believes in the right to bear arms. I also have a license for concealed carry. I live in Downtown Denver, and while certainly not as dangerous as Beaker's growing up in DC, I've had several scary experiences and know several people who have been robbed at gun- or knife-point, several who have been beaten, and one who was shot at for no particular reason. Walking around late at night, it is nice to know that I can protect myself and my friends and family should the need arise.

..or you could just be more aware of your surroundings when you go out at night. I'd like to believe most people are aware of how dangerous DC can be and don't casually walk around certain areas, especially at night. It's part of being street smart.

 

[JGordon]

Washington Heights, New York. It's the part of Manhattan just north of Harlem and south of Inwood.

Sorry bout that. Been to NYC a few times, but there's a whole lot of buroughs/suburbs. Still sounds much different than downtown Denver.

There is no registration requirement in CA for handguns. Conceal carry permits are damn near impossible to get.

Why was the charge upgraded to a felony once they discovered it wasn't registered? Or was it upgraded because he didn't have a concealed carry permit?

..or you could just be more aware of your surroundings when you go out at night. I'd like to believe most people are aware of how dangerous DC can be and don't casually walk around certain areas, especially at night. It's part of being street smart.

I LIVE in downtown Denver, it's not like I can really just stay in my apartment once the sun goes down. It's not THAT dangerous here, but there are a few gangs and some unsavory characters. I love living in the city, and I refuse to let fear drive me into the suburbs. The suburbs here lack any sense of soul, and are chain-dominated wastelands.

That's why I take necessary steps to protect myself, up to and including carrying a firearm. I am very "aware" of my surroundings, and watch most people carefully if I run into them late at night. But I can't just run away from people if they look remotely suspicious, or I'd be running all the time. And with the parking situation here - and the less-than-six-blocks nature of most of my trips - driving isn't really an option. That's half the benefit of living downtown, being able to walk to restaurants/movies/theater/bars/etc.

 

[A beaker full of death]

There is no registration requirement in CA for handguns. Conceal carry permits are damn near impossible to get.

Why was the charge upgraded to a felony once they discovered it wasn't registered?

That's a damn good question.

Check out http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/pubfaqs.php

There is no firearm registration requirement in California except for assault weapon owners and personal handgun importers. However, you may submit a Firearm Ownership Record to the DOJ for any firearm you own. Having a Firearm Ownership Record on file with the DOJ may help in the return of your firearm if it is lost or stolen. With very few and specific exceptions, all firearm transactions must be conducted through a firearms dealer.

It appears all transfers of weapons must be done through a dealer and are tracked by the CA-DOJ. But they maintain there is no registration requirement.

EDIT: OK, take a look at http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/CASL.pdf
Despite what the CA-DOJ says on its own website, it seems the recorded transfer of weapons through a dealer is a de facto registration of handguns in CA, for guns transferred after 1992. So does this apply to Farina? Dunno. Wouldn't count on the media to clear it up.

 

[DanCPA]

The man is a former police officer. I have no doubt he has carried a gun with him for a very long time, and I see nothing wrong with him doing so... until he got to LAX. He knows the rules for airport security and being a former peace officer, he should have respected the rules.

I see nothing wrong with the arrest. He should get a fine and lets move on. I doubt he had malicious intent and it was likely just a mistake.

And kudos to the TSA for doing something right!

 

[exodus]

Washington Heights, New York. It's the part of Manhattan just north of Harlem and south of Inwood.

Sorry bout that. Been to NYC a few times, but there's a whole lot of buroughs/suburbs. Still sounds much different than downtown Denver.

There is no registration requirement in CA for handguns. Conceal carry permits are damn near impossible to get.

Why was the charge upgraded to a felony once they discovered it wasn't registered? Or was it upgraded because he didn't have a concealed carry permit?

..or you could just be more aware of your surroundings when you go out at night. I'd like to believe most people are aware of how dangerous DC can be and don't casually walk around certain areas, especially at night. It's part of being street smart.

I LIVE in downtown Denver, it's not like I can really just stay in my apartment once the sun goes down. It's not THAT dangerous here, but there are a few gangs and some unsavory characters. I love living in the city, and I refuse to let fear drive me into the suburbs. The suburbs here lack any sense of soul, and are chain-dominated wastelands.

That's why I take necessary steps to protect myself, up to and including carrying a firearm. I am very "aware" of my surroundings, and watch most people carefully if I run into them late at night. But I can't just run away from people if they look remotely suspicious, or I'd be running all the time. And with the parking situation here - and the less-than-six-blocks nature of most of my trips - driving isn't really an option. That's half the benefit of living downtown, being able to walk to restaurants/movies/theater/bars/etc.

Nobody is asking you to stay indoors or to run away.

However ask yourself, how do thousands of single women survive in major cities day & night were crime exists and many of them don't carry a weapon?

My point being some feel the need to carry to feel secure, others do so by having good street smarts by knowing where they should and shouldn't go by themselves.