Ask an Officer: What Happens When Someone Fires a Weapon While Intoxicated?

Have a question you've always wanted to ask someone in law enforcement? Officer Wayne Twombly of the Fair Oaks Police District, which encompasses Oakton, will answer your question through our Ask an Officer feature. Readers submit questions and Officer Twombly responds. Send questions to Nicole.Trifone@patch.com or submit them in the comments section below.

Here is this week's question:

When someone is pulled over for a DWI, they may depending on severity and frequency have their driver's license suspended. It's theoretically just short of taking the car away from them so they can't hurt/kill anyone with it. What happens when someone fires a weapon illegally while intoxicated? Does the firearm get taken away so they can't hurt/kill anyone with it? If not, is it because driving is a privilege under the law and bearing arms is a right?

Twombly: In the case of a person discharging a weapon while intoxicated the weapon can be seized for both evidence and for the safety of both the suspect and others.