The Packer Pundit

ROOKIE FACES GUN CHARGES
Rodgers arrested after bar brawl in Texas
By TRACI SHURLEY
Jacked From MJS and Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"I'm very disappointed in his actions,He's still one of ours, and I'd like him to act differently." -- Gary Patterson, TCU's football coach

Fort Worth, Texas - Green Bay Packers rookie Cory Rodgers is facing weapons charges after he and two college teammates were arrested when police broke up a brawl that involved up to 60 people early Friday at a Fort Worth nightclub. Rodgers, a wide receiver and kick returner from Texas Christian University who was drafted by the Packers in the fourth round last month, is facing misdemeanor charges of unlawfully carrying a firearm and unlawfully discharging a firearm. He was released from the Mansfield Jail Friday evening after posting $2,000 bail, jail officials said. (MORE)

PACKER'S ROOKIE ARRESTED AFTER BRAWL
Jacked From GB Press Gazette

“We are aware of an incident involving Cory Rodgers Thursday night in Texas, and are in the process of gathering additional information.” -- A Packer's Team Spokesperson

Wide receiver Cory Rodgers, whom the Green Bay Packers selected in the fourth round of April’s NFL draft, was arrested Thursday night after police in Fort Worth, Texas, had to break up a brawl between gang members and former Texas Christian University football players. According to Fort Worth’s NBC affiliate, KXAS Channel 5, which first reported the story, police officers arrived shortly before 2 a.m. at the Stone Canyon Club, where police said 50 to 60 people were involved in a brawl. (MORE)

ANALYSIS BY THE PACKER PUNDIT
WHAT HAPPENED
Fort Worth police said the brawl at the Stone Canyon Club started shortly before 2 a.m. after Rodgers, 23, refused to sign autographs and buy drinks for people in the bar. Patrons of the club were seen using pool cues and beer bottles as weapons, police said. One officer suffered minor injuries after being struck by a beer bottle. Nearly two dozen officers were brought to the scene to end the fight, police said. As officers attempted to clear the club and surrounding parking lots, they heard two shots coming from Rodgers' gray 2005 Chevrolet Impala, said Lt. Dean Sullivan, a police spokesman,. Officers found Rodgers in the back seat with a .40-caliber automatic handgun and ammunition in a seat pouch in front of him, Sullivan said. Two TCU players were in the front seats, according to police reports. Safety Eric Buchanan and wide receiver Quentily Harmon were arrested on suspicion of public intoxication. They were released from the downtown city jail about 8 a.m. They told police that the gun was fired "to scare off a group of males who had thrown beer bottles at Rodgers and the other two individuals after he refused to give them some type of autograph," Sullivan said.

WHAT RODGERS IS CHARGED WITH
Misdemeanor charges of unlawfully carrying a firearm and unlawfully discharging a firearm in city limits.

WHAT DOES THE TEXAS LAW SAY
A STUDY OF THE TEXAS LAW ON
CARRYING WEAPONS AND RELATED OFFENSES
(as pertaining to Cory Rodgers)

Sec. 46.02 - Unlawful Carrying Weapons (Texas Penal Code)
a. A person commits an offense if he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his person a handgun, illegal knife or club.
c. An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if it occurs on any premises licensed or issued a permit by this state for the sale of alcoholic beverages.

COMMENT
The law on unlawful carrying arms is intended to be specific. If a weapon cannot be brought under the statute, it does not constitute unlawful carrying arms. A loaded double barrel 12 gauge shotgun is undoubtedly at least as deadly as a club, but the weapon does not fall under U.C.W. and if of proper length and manufacture is not illegal to carry. One must remember that the use of the weapon may constitute some other offense such as discharging firearms in city limits, disorderly conduct, reckless conduct or assault. U.C.W. is only one section that applies to the "carrying" of certain named items.