Another Anti-Gun Mayor Runs Afoul of the Law

We have previously reported on the incongruity of behavior demonstrated by the relatively long list of mayors who are associated with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" organization who have been implicated in illegal behavior. To that list we can add yet another name--former Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, Mayor James Schiliro. Ironically, the anti-gun mayor is headed to jail after unlawfully detaining a young man while armed with a gun.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Schiliro was sentenced to 10-to-20 months for an alcohol-fueled episode last February in which he had a police car bring a former neighbor--a 20-year-old to whom he said he was attracted--to his home, made him drink wine, and refused to let him leave for 3 1/2 hours.

Schiliro was subsequently convicted of recklessly endangering another person, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, official oppression, and furnishing liquor to a minor. Schiliro sold the gun shortly after the incident.

During the encounter, Schiliro threatened to kill himself and fired a gun into a stack of papers. The victim, Nicholas Dorsam, was eventually able to leave and then called police.

The article reports that Schiliro said he knew Dorsam as a teen and helped him as a mentor, and when Dorsam turned 20, Schiliro became attracted to him.

"That night was a culmination of feelings which had built up over 25 years," Schiliro said.

The article further notes that, on the night of the incident, at some point Schiliro told Dorsam he wanted to commit suicide. In response, Dorsam talked about Schiliro's daughter, who was asleep upstairs. Then, at his sentencing hearing, Schiliro credited Dorsam with saving his life.

"I was so drunk and so upset with myself for what I did, if Nick didn't mention my daughter I would have killed myself," Schiliro said. "That is the only thing that kept me from pulling the trigger."

Judge James F. Nilon apparently was not impressed nor persuaded by Schiliro's testimony.

"I don't think you appreciate the seriousness of the nature of the behavior that you engaged in," Nilon said.

And we don't think MAIG appreciates how foolish it looks for attacking the rights of ordinary, law-abiding gun owners while its own membership makes headlines for disregarding the law.

© 2013 National Rifle Association of America. Institute for Legislative Action. This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.