Please, Help Stop This TSA Injustice—You Can Make a Call and Demand Simple Fairness.

Sheila Schultz was unable to smile for this  police Booking Photo

Chicago, IL—Friday morning seemed like it was just another beginning of a long flight for Sheila Schultz, 65.  You see Schultz is a 44 year-veteran flight attendant for American Airlines and on this day she was headed for Shanghai, China. 

At O'Hare International Airport Schultz placed her carryon bag on a TSA inspection conveyer belt as she always does since privacy invasion by government became a way of life in this nation.  Now any fool would know that the TSA wienies are going to x-ray her bag for anything resembling a weapon.  Smuggling a weapon in a carryon bag simply would not work.

When Schultz’s bag was being screened, as was fully expected, unfortunately a handgun was discovered.  Without much fanfare the TSA wienies who have no police training or arrest powers took control over the bag and called the police.

The “Zero Tolerance” policy kicked into high gear.  Schultz was quickly placed in handcuffs and transported for booking and an overnight stay in the lockup.  She was humiliated with sexually intrusive strip searches and then dragged before a judge the next day.

Did she commit a crime?  On it’s face it’s very obvious that in the worst case scenario Schultz, forgot that she left her gun in the bag.  Missing was a motive or agenda and most importantly intent to cause harm or break the law.   This case however was still different.  The bag Schultz used, was also shared by her husband who apparently left the small .22 gun inside after a trip to Michigan.

In case you were wondering the Schultz couple live in suburban Palatine, Illinois.  There are no gun possession bans there and transporting the gun to Michigan would not violate any laws.   You also need to know that Schultz has never before in her entire life been arrested.  She’s not a member of a street gang or terror group.  She’s been a contributing and taxpaying member of society throughout her life.  Also she’s lived in the same home for 40 years.

Anita Alvarez is the Cook County State’s Attorney.  Alvarez personally hates the right we all are supposed to enjoy to keep and bear arms.  Alvarez lives to prosecute anyone she can for violation of the un-Constitutional gun laws of Illinois.  She’s proven herself to be heartless, cruel and unreasonable in gun cases.

I smell a deal in the works to make the Schultz woman plead guilty for a period of supervision and after three years a reversal of the conviction.  They will also seek to impose a fine.  That deal may also prematurely end Schultz’s airline career.  They will also demand that her husband’s gun be confiscated and destroyed.  Schultz’s  lawyer David Studenroth, will see this as the only way out and advise Schultz to take that crappy plea agreement.

Schultz will have to commute back and forth for a few months to spend countless hours in a courtroom far from her home in Palatine.  The lawyer’s meter will be ticking away depleting Schultz’s retirement fund.

If ever there was on this is a case where justice demands they simply let the woman go, return her husband’s gun and wish this woman well this was it.  Will they do the right thing here? Not without a lot of public pressure.  Common sense never seems to prevail in Cook County’s criminal justice system. 

Perhaps it’s time to pass this around to every sane and sober person you know to call Anita Alvarez at 773-674-7494.   Simply demand that Alvarez do the right thing and dismiss the charges so this woman can resume her life in peace.  I will make a call Monday Morning when the office is open for business, please do the same.