Police arrested a Virginia man with a handgun and more than 500 rounds of ammunition at an inauguration checkpoint in Washington D.C. on Friday.
According to court documents, Wesley A. Beeler approached the checkpoint but did not have a valid credential for the restricted area be wanted to enter.
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When the credential didn’t match up with a list of people authorized to enter the inauguration perimeter, U.S. Capitol Police officers conducted further searches.
Beeler’s white Ford 150 truck had gun-related bumper stickers that read “Assault Life” and “If they come for your guns, Give ‘Em your bullets first.” according to NBC 4.
Officers found a loaded Glock 9MM pistol, 509 rounds of ammunition, a 17-round Glock magazine and 21 12-guage shotgun shells, according to the police report. Authorities said he didn’t have a license to carry the gun in Washington.
Beeler is charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possessing an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.
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According to the New York Times, Beeler has an active private security license in Virginia. A federal law enforcement official told the Times that Beeler worked as a contractor and his credential was not fake, but was not recognized by the police officer.
“It was an honest mistake,” Beeler told The Washington Post after his release on Saturday. “I pulled up to a checkpoint after getting lost in D.C. because I’m a country boy. In showed them the inauguration badge that was given to me.”
He denied having 500 rounds of ammunition as stated in the police report, according to the Post.
