Aqib Talib could end up having plenty in common with Plaxico Burress, after all.
Amid a report that Talib has told others he shot himself, ESPN explains that Talib could indeed end up facing criminal charges if he shot himself while in possession of a gun in violation of Texas law.
So-called “Constitutional carry” went out the window in Texas on January 1, with a law requiring a person who carries a gun to be licensed.
ESPN has set forth the menu of potential criminal charges for Talib: (1) carrying a weapon in public without a license into a place that sells alcohol is a Class 3 felony; (2) possessing a weapon while intoxicated is a Class A misdemeanor; and (3) discharging a weapon in public is a Class B misdemeanor.
WFAA reports that the bullet that struck Talib entered his right thigh and exited his right calf, suggesting that Talib may have indeed pulled the trigger on a gun that was carrying.
Potential league discipline for Talib will depend in large part on whether he broke the law in Texas. The Personal Conduct Policy, as revised in December 2014, could result in the NFL taking action against Talib even if he isn’t arrested, charged, or convicted.