US : Congressional Staffer Arrested on Gun Charge

A high ranking staffer for Tom Marino was arrested Friday morning, on charges of carrying a 9mm handgun and magazine into the Cannon Office Building, Capitol police said.

At about 9:15 a.m., said officer Shennell Antrobus, USCP arrested Ryan Shucard, Marino’s press secretary.

Marino’s Chief of Staff Bill Tighe told Newswatch 16 Shucard is licensed to carry a firearm in Virginia where he lives but not in D.C.

On Shucard’s arrest, Tighe said: “We are disappointed that Ryan showed a lack of judgment and responsibility as a firearms owner.”

At the fair, people agreed.

“Take care of your firearm in a very safe manner, you never keep the ammunition where the firearm is at and you keep the firearm locked up,” said Chalmer Van Horn, a member Consolidated Sportsmen of Muncy Creek.

“You have to be very careful what you have permit-wise, paperwork wise,” said Beth Finn from South Williamsport.

Marino’s chief of staff said the Congressman was in the Williamsport area at the time of Shucard’s arrest.

Shucard is now on unpaid leave of absence and faces a felony charge of carrying a pistol without a license.

“Yeah he should have been arrested because you bring a gun to Capitol Hill you’re going to be arrested,” said Howard Grossnickle from Williamsport.

Others here think he made an honest mistake.

“I’m guessing that it was just an error where he didn’t think, he forgot that he had that gun and it was found on a metal detector to me that isn’t a big deal,” said Bob Crockett from Williamsport.

According to Ryan Shucard’s Facebook page, he is originally from Colorado and apparently has no ties to Pennsylvania.

Agencies/Canadajournal