In a somewhat ironic situation, a staffer for an anti-gun congressman has been arrested for trying to bring ammunition and firearms magazines into the Cannon House Office Building.
On Thanksgiving morning, Michael Hopkins, communications director for U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle, D-NY, was entering the building and sent his backpack through the metal detector. He was quickly arrested when a subsequent hand search of the bag turned up 11 rounds of ammunition and four magazines—at least one of which exceeded the District of Columbia’s capacity limit.
According to U.S. Capitol Police, the 38-year-old Hopkins told officers he forgot the mags and ammo were in his bag. He is now facing charges for unlawful possession of ammunition and one charge for possession of a “high-capacity” magazine.
Of course, without a firearm, the ammo and magazines—even the dreaded one that could hold more than 10 rounds—posed absolutely no danger to anyone in the office building. In fact, those of us who sometimes use our backpacks for various purposes have likely forgotten a few rounds and a mag or two on occasion.
Still, the arrest brought quick retribution from Rep. Morelle, who favors a ban on so-called “high-capacity” magazines, along with supporting many other restrictive gun-control schemes.
“In response to this morning’s incident, Mr. Hopkins is no longer employed by Representative Morelle’s office effective immediately,” Jo Stiles, Chief of Staff to Rep. Morelle, said in a statement later that day.
Rep. Morelle has an “F” rating from both the National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund and the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association. In fact, a brief look at his website shows that he supports nearly every anti-gun proposal you could think of, including bans on “assault weapons,” so-called “universal” background checks, waiting periods on gun purchases, so-called “safe storage” laws, red-flag laws, funding CDC for more anti-gun research and stiffer certification requirements for firearm retailers.
Oh yeah, and bans on firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammo, legislation he was proud to co-sponsor.
“I’m proud to support numerous pieces of legislation to keep families safe from gun violence, including measures to ban assault weapons, enact universal background checks, ban the sale of high-capacity magazines, reduce gun theft and trafficking, and more,” Morelle said on his website. “I have also authored and introduced legislation to strengthen regulations on gun shops and prevent the flow of illegal weapons onto our streets and into the hands of criminals.”
As a communication director, Hopkins was likely involved in putting together that very statement, along with dozens of press releases touting gun-ban measures. It is interesting that he would own a magazine his boss—and, by extension, he—loves to hate so much.
In the end, Hopkins simply got caught up in an unjust D.C. law and ended up losing his job over it. Ironically, given the work he’s undoubtedly done for his employer on the magazine capacity issue, it seems that he likely got what he deserved, losing his job over a magazine that he thought he should be able to own but that isn’t appropriate for “the rest of us.”
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