Rapper T.I. has issued a public apology as he awaits sentencing on federal weapons charges, insisting he fell victim to poor judgment.
The star, real name Clifford Harris Jr., is facing a one-year prison sentence and 1,000 hours of community service after pleading guilty to illegal possession of three machine guns and two silencers following a 2007 arrest.
Harris defended his decision to carry illegal weapons earlier this month (Oct08), claiming he has feared assassination since the shooting death of his assistant two years ago.
He says, "I can't excuse my behaviour but, when you've endured what I've endured and you have attempts made at your life... (and) you have more people that would rather kill you than congratulate you. You have family to protect and people that mean the world to you that you'd put your life on the line for at any given moment.
"It kind of swings your judgment... I'm definitely sorry for it (arrest) and I'm doing everything to turn negatives into positives and put this all behind me."