After Edwin F. Hale Sr., the head of 1st Mariner Bank, accepted probation before judgment for carrying a loaded gun into BWI Airport, a reader wondered whether the well-known executive would have to forfeit his carry permit.

I checked with the Maryland State Police, which issues the permits through its licensing division, and got these details from spokeswoman Elena Russo:

Shortly after Hale was cited by the Maryland Transportation Authority Police with violating security procedures at the airport -- a misdemeanor state crime -- state police sent him a revocation letter, which, is sent to every permit holder who gets arrested or who is "believed to be involved in an offense that could lead to an arrest."

The letter invited Hale to come talk to state police, and Russo said he "immediately came in by himself" with his permit. Meanwhile, police met with attorneys who advised that the charge with which Hale had been charged, and later accepted probation, "would not prohibit him from purchasing, possessing or carrying a handgun."

Hale's permit was not revoked.

Maryland Transportation Authority Police said at the time of the incident that they charged Hale with the minor offense because they believed that he had honestly forgotten the gun in a briefcase when he went to the airport to board a flight to Milwaukee. And because Hale had a legal carry permit, he could not be charged with illegal gun possession.

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Hale held in gun case

Hale charged with crime

Hale accepts probation before judgment