Cannon House Office Building

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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34 COMMENTS

  2. Nothing makes me happier than to see a liberal progressive democrat have to face the consequences of their own ideology. This clown knowingly worked for a someone who does everything in his power to deny him his 2nd Amendment Rights and now it cost him not only his job but may well cost him his freedom. Bad consequences come from bad choices. Obviously he chose poorly…Twice.

    • While I try not to indulge in schadenfreude there comes a difficult to avoid pleasure in seeing a quisling get caught in the trap they set for us. Hopefully they spend their own money to fight the charges using Bruen for the delicious irony of ending mag limits by a gun control employee.

  3. Daniel Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in subway chokehold case.

    h ttps://www.msn.com/en-us/crime/general/daniel-penny-not-guilty-of-criminally-negligent-homicide-in-subway-chokehold-case/ar-AA1vxOfE

        • former, they won’t riot. It’s cold outside now. Even I’ve seen mid twenties the last couple of weeks. We always knew it was going to be a quiet night if it was cold. They don’t like the cold. Unless it lasted too long. Then they would turn on each other. Cabin fever I guess.

      • Where is Mayor Daly when you need him?

        “Rioters will be shot dead on sight. The police have been given the order to shoot to kill.”

        That’s a paraphrasing.

        But this is not: Here’s what happened that night (read between the brackets).

        []

      • Go ahead, no really proceed with that plan. I honestly wonder how far that will go without election money from Soros and others to fund and organize the process.

  5. Anyone else see the irony in how the Congressman’s office was supposed to issue a communication’s release about releasing their communications director?

    • Very Monty Python.

      “We apologize again for the fault in the subtitles. Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked have been sacked.”

  6. In another twist of irony, the arrest and firing of Mr. Hopkins has created the quintessential perfect case to overturn laws banning ammunition and magazines with capacities greater than some arbitrary number.

    • The FPC should be kind, forgiving souls and offer this gentleman their help and support in overturning this DC law. That really serves two purposes, one to troll and two actually overturn this law. having a prominent Democrat’s staffer be the case that gets this ban rolled back would be absolutely spectacular.

  7. Seems like Prop charges and shells should be going to the cannon house?
    Golly I guess Joe was right.

  9. My biggest problem are those damn .22s. The casings seem to go everywhere. Found one on the floor of the shower after a day at the range. Wonder where that fell out of?!?

  10. Gman.
    I know the feeling.
    Pulling into a military installation my vehicle was picked to be spot checked.
    The dog went nuts, I thought”Oh fuck what now?”
    The guard found an empty .22 case behind the seat.
    I’m still wondering if the dog smelled that or something else?

  11. As long as the ignorant cretins keep electig these Liberal Bozos ,we keep seeing unConstitutional laws being passed which need SCOTUS to settle once and forever

  13. If it had been the Dem Congresscritter himself who was caught with a “high-capacity” magazine, rather than just one of his staff, we all know he would never have been arrested, would never have faced any legal consequences, and would never have been fired. Rank has its privileges (RHIP), and Congresscritters always think they’re above the law!
    Remember the other Dem Congresscritter who got caught on video purposely pulling a fire alarm just to delay the vote on some bill? He never spent a single day in jail for it, despite all the evidence proving his crime. I’m not sure if he got “fired” on election day; did he?
    Ah, don’t get me started on all the other Congresscritters who have blatantly broken laws and never faced any consequences, as there are so many of them (on both sides of the aisle)!

    • Art 1 Section 6 ” be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; ”

      So generally, a Rep/Senator (who has a pair) would ignore any/all restrictions on the carry of any firearm in DC.

  14. IRE: “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.”

    If anything the haphazard hopkins should have been canned for being a hypocrite. Instead it was morelle’s hate for firearms that got hopkins fired…obviously Gun Control is a mental disorder.

    • Yes, the CD was fired because he embarrassed the congressman, not because he broke the law. I wonder if the CD was ever granted permission to carry, as a defender, while in entourage with the congressman. Some of the biggest mouths have the least courage.

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