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State Lawmaker Not Charged For Bringing Gun To Airport

What happens when a state lawmaker brings a gun to an airport?

That question is playing out for a Republican in Northern Michigan.

State Representative Lee Chatfield had an unregistered loaded gun in his luggage when he went to board a flight at a tiny airport in Pellston in July.

Pellston is about 20 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge.

So far, Chatfield has only had to pay a $250 fine for having an unregistered gun.

He has not been charged for bringing that gun to the airport.

WKAR’s Emily Fox spoke with Interlochen Public Radio’s Morgan Springer on whether politics has anything to do with the lack of charges.

Springer points out that the prosecutor in this case has given money to Chatfield’s campaign in the past.

Chatfield’s incident happened a few weeks before Michigan’s primary election. Chatfield ended up winning his primary in a landslide.

Springer tells us how Chatfield and the prosecutor have responded to this case.

She also tells us how similar situations have played out for other public officials who also brought guns to airports in the state.

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