Platte County Prosecutor Says Maas Will Not Face State Charges
By Glenn E. Rice, The Kansas City Star, Mo.
Sep. 12–Former Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Bill Maas will not face state charges after he allegedly tried to board a commercial airline flight carrying a loaded handgun in a backpack, Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said this morning.
Maas, 45, was detained at the Kansas City International Airport on Sept. 5 after he tried to board a Northwest Airlines flight. Security screeners discovered a 9mm Glock handgun with 15 rounds in the clip in Maas’ carry on bag.
Maas told an officer with the KCI airport police that he had forgotten the weapon was in his bag. The handgun was confiscated, and Maas was released pending additional investigation. Authorities forward the case to Zahnd’s office for review.
“Missouri law currently makes it impossible to prosecute someone who tries to carry a gun on a plane unless that person was going to commit a crime,” Zahnd said.
The case against Maas is similar to dozens of other cases, which Zahnd said his office has been forced to reject over the past several years. Increased security procedures since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have meant that more guns and knives are found at KCI, but because of stipulations with the law, relatively few state prosecutions had occurred, he said.
Carrying a weapon aboard a plane is prohibited by federal regulations, but is legal under state law because of the Missouri loophole, he said.
Maas could still face a $10,000 fine from the Transportation Security Administration. He could also face municipal charges under a Kansas City ordinance, Zahnd said.
To reach Glenn E. Rice, call 816-234-5908 or send e-mail to grice@kcstar.com.
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