Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested a Marine Corps sergeant last Wednesday after University employees discovered a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in his Crawford Hall room during a maintenance inspection.
Frank Anello was arrested for possession of an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition, according to police documents. Anello, who was staying in the residence hall temporarily, walked in during the inspection and told officers that he owned the pistol. University Police Department Chief Dolores Stafford said he is not affiliated with GW.
Anello declined to comment when reached by phone at his home in Pennsylvania. Former Washington Times editor Robert Stacy McCain wrote in his blog that he met Anello at the 30th National Conservative Student Conference, which was held on campus this week.
Arrested a member of our armed forces for keeping a firearm?
Disgraceful. Absolutely disgraceful.
Logan,
That’s the dumbest comment ever.
It is illegal to possess an unregistered firearm. While I respect the man’s service, nobody is above the law.
Well, he should have registered it. Serving in the military shouldn’t place you above the law.
I am willing to bet that the US Attorney doesn’t paper this case. The weapon wasn’t being used in the commission of a crime; so as long as the weapon was lawfully owned by the marine, he’ll be fine.
Under the old gun ban statute, members of the military, along with members of law enforcement were specifically exempted anyway.
He can’t register it.
Under DC law, semi-automatic pistols are classified as “Assault Weapons”.
This just shows the facist nature of the DC government and Mayor Adrian Fenty. The Congress should revoke home rule for the district.
Actually, any weapon with more than a 12 round capacity without reloading is classified as a MACHINE GUN which cannot be registered.
Additionally, he would have to be a DC resident to register it. He would have been covered under a federal law “PEACEABLE JOURNEY” if he would have just been passing through DC and not staying in Crawford.
Lastly, the people running GWHP are nuts. They shouldn’t be snooping through peoples stuff and thus finding this stuff.