Most recent idiotic move by a FA

[Warhawk]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/basketball/nba/07/07/henderson.ap/index.html

Henderson arrested on gun charge

Posted: Thursday July 7, 2005 1:27PM; Updated: Thursday July 7, 2005 1:27PM

(AP) -- Dallas Mavericks free agent Alan Henderson faces criminal charges after authorities said he had a handgun in his luggage while trying to board a flight at a New York airport over the weekend.

The 32-year-old Henderson, a former Indiana University star who played at Indianapolis Brebeuf, was released without bail Sunday, a day after his arrest at John F. Kennedy International Airport, a spokesman for the Queens County Criminal Court said.


Henderson had a loaded 9 mm pistol stored in a metal lock box inside his suitcase, said Patrick Clark, a spokesman for the Queens District Attorney's office. Clark said Henderson was stopped by airport officials when he acknowledged he did not have a valid New York permit or a license for the weapon.

Henderson is charged with second- and third-degree counts of criminal possession of a weapon. His court date is set for Aug. 25. If convicted, Henderson could face 15 years in prison.

A message seeking comment was left Thursday for Henderson's agent, Bill Strickland.

Henderson, a 6-foot-9 forward, was a first-round pick by Atlanta in 1995 and has played 10 NBA seasons. He is an unrestricted free agent after averaging 3.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a game for Dallas last season.

 

[Bricklayer]

Will some one PLEASE expain to me why oh why do these multimillionaires insist on running around like idiots with loaded firearms? Besde being stupid I mean. Note to NBA players: you've made it fools! No more need to show off or prove your manhood. You're rich, you're famous. You're apparently braindead.

 

[bibby-the-man]

One word. Idiot.

 

[sloter]

Will some one PLEASE expain to me why oh why do these multimillionaires insist on running around like idiots with loaded firearms? Besde being stupid I mean. Note to NBA players: you've made it fools! No more need to show off or prove your manhood. You're rich, you're famous. You're apparently braindead.

Well, I don't know if they are carrying their guns just to show off (a la Jayson Williams). If you already have the need to drive around through the hood and some of its more dangerous parts, I guess it's not that bad of an idea to carry a weapon in self defense, cause who knows what might happen there... but the two real questions are : why do they have the need to go to the dangerous parts and why don't they register the weapons ? Strange...

 

[Variant]

They're just doin what gangstas gotta do...

 

[VF21]

Let's follow the thought process:

Henderson's brain: Hey, I have an idea. Let's take this load, unregistered pistol we don't have a permit for and put it in a metal box inside some luggage and take it out to the airport and see what happens.

Henderson's OTHER brain cell: Couldn't that get us in trouble?

Henderson's brain: Trouble? Yo, dude. We're in the NBA. Nothin's gonna happen...

 

[bibby-the-man]

Nice VF21 I like that!

 

[Yo33Fan]

One word. Idiot.

I think Alan made a mistake-forget about it, move on with your lives.

At least Alan has a decent relationship with his FATHER, bibby-the-man, unlike someone who is point guard for the Kings!!

 

[Fillmoe]

first mistake = being 32
second mistake = carrying gun in handbag while boarding a plane...

HAHAHAH what did he think was gonna happen?

 

[funkykingston]

Did he think the metal box would stop it from being detected?

I mean really, the guy isn't a 21 year old rookie on his first NBA paycheck, he's a 32 year old man who travels often enough that he should know how strict airline security is. "But Mark Cuban lets me bring it on HIS plane . . . "

How stupid.

A possible 15 year prison sentence?

And he thought the losing seasons with Atlanta were bad . . .

 

[loopymitch]

I think Alan made a mistake-forget about it, move on with your lives.

At least Alan has a decent relationship with his FATHER, bibby-the-man, unlike someone who is point guard for the Kings!!

What does that have to do with anything?

 

[BigSong]

At least Alan has a decent relationship with his FATHER, bibby-the-man, unlike someone who is point guard for the Kings!!

atleast Bibby isn't ****ing stupid enough to carry a gun on a plane. Besides if my dad left me, i wouldn't care about him either.

 

[Alacron]

Alan's basic problem is that he mixed up Superman's powers with the airport scanner's. It's Superman who can't see through metal (lead, anyway).

But wow 15 years seems a little extreme for that offense.
~~

 

[VF21]

At least Alan has a decent relationship with his FATHER, bibby-the-man, unlike someone who is point guard for the Kings!!

That kind of stuff might be appropriate and even desired on some message boards. Here, it's neither...

And, as has been pointed out above, it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the topic at hand.

 

[Kev.in]

I think Alan made a mistake-forget about it, move on with your lives.

At least Alan has a decent relationship with his FATHER, bibby-the-man, unlike someone who is point guard for the Kings!!

Trying to bring a gun on a plane in NY = one of the stupidest things you can do right now.
It really does elicit the question "WHY?". What could someone possibly be thinking, assuming they knew they had the gun in their luggage. Is he really that sheltered and thinks he can just tote a gun wherever he wants?

On the other hand...

Having a strained relationship with a father who wasn't there for you as a kid = the facts of life, usually out of your control and more an indication of the other party's character.

 

[funkykingston]

I didn't mention earlier, but the Bibby comment struck me as bizarre too.

Not only do I not understand how a strained family life can be compared to a gun possession charge, but I don't know why Bibby was even brought into this discussion.

 

[Fillmoe]

LOL! this thread is straight comedy! thanks for the laughs guys

 

[Evenstar]

wow thats embarassing. what a M O R O N!

 

[Evilmav2]

It sounds like my fellow IU alum Hendu was transporting his firearm in a lock-box in his checked suitcase, rather than walking it into the airplane cabin, so I personally won't fault the man for his minor oversight, and I hope he walks away from this business without any serious punishment...

Mixup leads to Henderson arrest

By ART GARCIA
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS - A misunderstanding led to the arrest of Alan Henderson for carrying a gun onto a flight in New York, according to Mavericks officials.

The free-agent forward attempted to take a loaded 9 mm pistol stored in a metal lock box inside his suitcase onboard a plane Saturday at John F. Kennedy International Airport, The Associated Press reported.

Henderson was stopped by airport officials when he acknowledged he didn't have a valid New York permit or license. He is charged with second- and third-degree counts of criminal possession of a weapon. His court date is set for Aug. 25. If convicted, Henderson could face up to 15 years in prison.

Henderson told members of the Mavs organization that he has a permit for the gun and thought he was transporting it lawfully. Henderson was on his way to Florida.

"He called ahead and thought he took the right precautions," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said Thursday.

 

[loopymitch]

^^ I wouldn't exactly call it an oversight. Having a loaded gun on a plane is serious in these days of terrorist attacks. Whether he had a permit or not, it was still pretty stupid to take it on the plane especially loaded but I guess some players think the laws do not apply to them and unfortunately most famous people with money can get away with things that us "regular" people can't. I'm beginning to wonder if it is stupidity or the mentality that I'm famous, I can get away with it. Sad, but true.

 

[thesanityannex]

I'm beginning to wonder if it is stupidity or the mentality that I'm famous, I can get away with it. Sad, but true.

I think it has to be just plain stupidity. Getting caught with a loaded firearm at the airport is not something you think you can just get away with because of NBA status. Now if its a bag of weed, thats different, I can see the status making that disappear, but a gun......what a dumb***.

 

[quick dog]

The article indicated that he did not possess a valid permit to carry the weapon in New York City. (Almost nobody is allowed to have a pistol in NYC) I'll bet this guy had a permit to carry the gun in Dallas, Texas, but failed to understand that New York City is no longer in the State of Texas.

Big urban cities, especially on the right and left coasts have very restrictive firearms laws. These laws apparently provide emotional comfort for urban politicians and their unarmed constituents. I don't think there has been a shooting on the East Coast in years. Oh wait, there have been more shootings in Wash DC than Baghdad in the past 12 months.

If the gun had been unloaded, and in was secured a locked carrying case, he probably could have checked it with the airline people. The airline company would have made sure that local laws and regulations were followed. They probably would have stored it in a special on-board place.

He was careless and moderately stupid, but in the existing frame of social reference, not stupid beyond all belief.

 

[Londonking]

Did he think the metal box would stop it from being detected?

I mean really, the guy isn't a 21 year old rookie on his first NBA paycheck, he's a 32 year old man who travels often enough that he should know how strict airline security is. "But Mark Cuban lets me bring it on HIS plane . . . "

How stupid.

A possible 15 year prison sentence?

And he thought the losing seasons with Atlanta were bad . . .

Stupid yes..malicious..no.

Lets hope that common sense prevails and he doesnt get sent down for a 'stretch'.

No doubt some community work or something constructive towards helping and educating kids who look up to him as a role model would be appropriate.....

 

[tubiscus]

From the American Airlines Website...

Firearms and Ammunition may not be carried by a passenger on an aircraft. However, unloaded firearms may be transported in checked baggage if declared to the agent at check in and packed in a crush-proof container manufactured specifically for the firearm or a hard-sided suitcase. Firearms must be in a locked container. Properly packaged small arms ammunition for personal use may be transported in checked luggage.

Reading the above rules for American Airlines makes me think it very well could have been a minor misunderstanding. It probably wouldn't have been a big deal if it were somewhere besides NY, where until the recent federal carry law was signed, even cops from other jurisdictions weren't allowed to carry.


I checked my firearm on an airliner years ago and they required a locked hard sided case and put large "FIREARM" stickers all over it. They also required it to be separate from other luggage. I asked if they could secure it for me so I could claim it in person and they refused. After the flight, I had to RACE to the baggage claim to make sure someone didn't see the stickers and decide to walk away with it. Another example of a system designed to discourage firearm ownership/use.

 

[quick dog]

I transported a rifle on an airliner once. I was pretty self-conscientious about removing it from the case and clearing the breach in front of the check-in people and fellow passengers. It was Phoenix. Nobody seemed perplexed or even interested. I suspect that there would have been little yellow puddles on the floor if I had done so in San Francisco International.

I would avoid transporting a pistol these days, although I believe that I did so many years ago. There are a lot of federal, State, and local laws that require serious attention and observance.

Child molesters, rapists, foreign terrosists, and repeat-felons are generally accepted in polite society these days. Guns in the hands of common citizens is out of vogue.

 

[Bricklayer]

Child molesters, rapists, foreign terrosists, and repeat-felons are generally accepted in polite society these days. Guns in the hands of common citizens is out of vogue.

Quite frankly none of the above can shoot me dead without a gun. And I only have your word that you are not one of them when you carry a weapon that at its heart is designed to kill people. That puts you in charge of my life, something I am obviously not at all comfortable with unless I know you personally, and not even necessarily then.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Oh man, I'm having Foxhole flashbacks

 

[HndsmCelt]

Let's be fair the guy has been living in Texas... he honestly might have thought he was SUPPOSED to bring his gun on board the plane!