Mark Meckler -- co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots, one of the largest Tea Party groups in the country -- got a taste of Empire State gun laws Saturday, after being arrested for trying to bring his pistol onto a flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York. During the pre-flight check-in, he declared his Glock and 19 cartridges of ammunition as required by law without realizing that even having the concealed weapon is a felony in New York, even if his California permit is valid. “Unfortunately for Mr. Meckler, he thought he was good to go because he has a carry permit in California, but that does not cover New York. Folks who want to carry a firearm on a flight have to do their homework," a Port Authority spokesperson told The New York Times. And you'd think that a big-wig in the Tea Party with so many cable news appearances would know liberal New Yorkers are strict about guns. But thankfully for Meckler, the "charge could carry prison time, but travelers who are arrested in such cases and appear to be trying to comply with the law typically pay fines," reports the AP. So he can get back to advocating for gun rights right away.

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