From the “Be Careful What You Wish For” file comes this story about forgetfulness.
A Buffalo, NY, community activist who is well known locally for pushing for the highly restrictive 2013 New York State SAFE Act was arrested and charged for carrying a handgun illegally at a public elementary school in the city.
The arrested gun-control advocate, Dwayne Ferguson, caused quite a scene at Harvey Austin Elementary School, reported local CBS affiliate WIVB.
At about 4:15 p.m. on a school day, police responded quickly to a pair of anonymous 911 tips that a man with a gun was seen at the school. A battalion of cops quickly swarmed the institution, including over a dozen squad cars, the SWAT team and K9 units, plus the Erie County Sheriff ’s Air One helicopter and what appeared to be an armored vehicle.
The man with the gun turned out to be Ferguson, who was on after-school mentoring activities, but was carrying his licensed handgun in violation of a new enhanced penalty provision of the SAFE Act.
His excuse was that he forgot, but that didn’t stave off an arraignment, nor the public debate that followed. The disposition of the case is pending, but he faces the prospect of a Class E felony conviction.
