Reefer Madness in Virginia
It’s reefer madness in reverse: a Virginia man was arrested Friday for threatening to kill his local congressman over weed legalization.
Yes, illegal weed is driving some U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor’s constituents into a frenzy…at least one of them.
The incident happened at a meeting in Scott Taylor’s office when Wallace Godwin, of Virginia Beach, made the threat, although the Republican congressman was not present.
“Scott is having an event this Saturday. I am going to get my shotgun and do something about this. I will just handle this myself,” said Wallace Godwin, 69, according to an affidavit from Capitol Police officer Gerren Stith.
He then pointed at two staff members in the room and said, “You two are next,” according to Officer Stith.
What drove Godwin to such extremes?
According to court documents, Godwin was meeting with members of the congressman’s staff on Thursday in Virginia Beach and became angry and frustrated during a discussion over marijuana policy, according to law enforcement authorities, reported the Washington Post.
We’ve all been there. But killing someone with a shotgun?
“The tone of our discourse has come to unacceptable and dangerous levels,” said congressman Taylor in a statement after the arrest was announced. “I call on everyone, and I mean everyone, to please calm down. We are all Americans. There is so much that unites us.”
According to the affidavit, Godwin began harassing Taylor last year at his home where he once blocked his car and badgered the congressman over his stance on marijuana.
Rep. Taylor has called the threats “believable.” No kidding.
It’s time to take away shotguns…all of them and not just from reefer mad people.
Possession of marijuana in the “Lovers State” is a Class I misdemeanor punishable 30 days in jail and/or a find of up to $500 for a first offense. That goes up with a second offense, naturally.
Godwin won’t be smoking any weed or wielding any shotguns for at least ten years. He’ll be cooling his jets in a federal prison.
