Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Staffer Arrested For Bringing Loaded Gun Into Capitol Office Building

Roll Call reports:

Capitol Police arrested an employee with the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms for attempting to bring a loaded handgun into a Senate office building. Christopher Carpenter ‎of Stafford, Va., was arrested around 7 a.m. Tuesday at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, when an X-ray bag screening required to enter the building revealed a gun. Capitol Police Spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider wrote in an email to Roll Call Wednesday that Carpenter was carrying a loaded 9mm handgun in his backpack. A Capitol Police report stated that Carpenter said in addition to the magazine, he had seven rounds of ammunition. Schneider said Carpenter was arrested with possession of an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition. He was processed at Capitol Police headquarters on D Street Northeast

Carpenter says he has a concealed carry license in Virginia, but according to charges filed yesterday he has no such license in the District. Carpenter claims to have forgotten the gun was in his backpack. (Tipped by JMG reader Lynda)