Let-off for US politician found with gun at airport

Washington State senator Jeff Wilson was let off with a bind-over order at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court yesterday after he was found with a revolver in his briefcase at the Hong Kong International Airport on October 21.

Principal magistrate Don So Man-lung ordered Wilson to be bound over HK$2,000 for two years, and confiscated his revolver.

Wilson said he regretted that he packed quickly and failed to check the contents of his briefcase, adding that his heart "sank" when reaching into the briefcase for gum during the flight from Portland, Oregon but felt his gun instead.

So said it is a mystery how Wilson passed the security checks at the US airport with an unloaded revolver in his briefcase.

He added that Wilson claimed the gun was for self-defense, but there were no bullets in his baggage.

However, So said he believes Wilson is innocent and without criminal intention, as he has traveled to Hong Kong and the mainland in the past and is aware of the local restrictions on firearms.

Wilson arrived nine days ago from Portland via San Francisco and he informed customs officers about an unloaded gun in his baggage. He was then arrested for possession of a firearm without a license.

Wilson told police officers that the gun, worth US$350 (HK$2,737), belongs to him and that he has a license in the US, adding the incident was a "horrible accident."

He said he came to Hong Kong to boost trading exchanges and planned to stay here for two to three days.

On his website, Wilson wrote that he is glad to see the matter resolved and will resume his travels in Southeast Asia with his wife.

He added that the Portland airport's baggage screeners missed detecting the weapon, and he discovered the gun mid-flight between San Francisco and Hong Kong.

"This was a mistake on my part, and I regret it," Wilson said. "I packed quickly and failed to check the contents of my briefcase. Over the Pacific, I reached into my briefcase for gum and felt my gun instead. My heart sank. I understood immediately what had happened, and that my only option was to report to the proper authorities, cooperate fully and respect the laws of the land where my plane was about to touch down."

"The Chinese (Hong Kong) authorities conducted themselves in a professional manner, and I commend them for their diligence," Wilson said.

"I am relieved we were able to resolve this matter efficiently, and I want to apologize for the concern I created."

"We all can learn from what happened here. First, of course, to always check your carry-on baggage ... but more importantly, when you make a mistake like this one, the right thing to do is to show respect and accept responsibility."

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com

Editorial: Gun-packing senator dodges a legal bullet