Posted on 12/01/2008 11:41:39 AM PST by Jersey Republican Biker Chick
A fuming Mayor Bloomberg said Monday he wants Giants player Plaxico Burress prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law" for accidentally shooting himself in his leg with an illegal handgun.
The mayor also called on prosecutors to throw the book at officials of the Giants and New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell for reportedly not alerting police about the shooting immediately, as required by law.
The incident reportedly occurred early Saturday inside the crowded LQ nightclub in midtown. Sources said the loaded gun Burress was packing slipped down his pants leg and went off as he fumbled to grab it. He was struck in his right thigh.
"It's pretty hard to argue the guy didn't have a gun and that it wasn't loaded," said Bloomberg, lashing out at the Super Bowl receiver. "You've got bullet holes in and out to show that it was there."
Bloomberg, who has been leading a national crusade against illegal guns, noted that under New York law if you are convicted of carrying a loaded illegal handgun "you go automatically to three-and-a-half years in the slammer."
"And I don't think that anybody should be exempt from that," he added. "And I think it would be an outrage if we don't prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."
"Our children are getting killed with guns on the street," the mayor commented during an unrelated press availability in the Bronx. "Our police officers are getting killed with guns in the hands of criminals."
A mayoral spokesman said Bloomberg was referring to the state law he successfully pushed through Albany last year that changed the penalty for illegal possession of a loaded illegal handgun from a one-year sentence to a mandatory minimum 3 1/2-year sentence.
The mandatory sentencing would apply if Burress is convicted as charged, but not necessarily if he is offered a plea bargain.
The mayor said that "people who live in the public domain" should be especially held responsible for their conduct because "they are the role models for our kids."
Not prosecuting celebrities and notables who "make their living because of their visibility" would make "a sham, a mockery of the law," the mayor asserted.
As for hospital officials who allegedly didn't immediately report that Burress had been brought to the hospital and treated, the mayor said, "It's a misdemeanor, it's a chargeable offense, and I think that the district attorney should certainly go after the management of this hospital."
He scoffed at the hospital's "lame execuse that they didn't know. This is a world-class hospital in a city where we all know what goes on in the streets of our city and where all should be working to get guns off the street."
He said those who treated Burress didn't immediately call the police and the hospital management "should make sure that the people that didn't no longer work there."
The mayor said the police only found out about the shooting incident from a TV report.
"The hospital didn't call and the Giants didn't call," he said. "And the Giants should have picked up the phone right away as good corporate citizens. I don't care whether (there is) the legal responsibility for them to do it."
The Second Amendment applies to the whole United States and NY should obey it.
Prosecute Buress, i.e. the guilty one, I am all for it. Prosecute anyone and everyone wearing a Giants uniform or associated with the organization just cause you are an anti-gun nut with a bug up your arse, especially in a year that the Giants are having one of their finest seasons, political suicide if you ask me.
The Supreme Court upheld the right of the states to regulate ownership. Therefore NY is within it's rights to decide that someone must follow certain laws for ownership to be legal. You can't bring a gun from FL to NY and it's automatically legal.
Having said that, I cringe at seeing any American prosecuted for violations of un-Constitutional laws...which NYC's Sullivan act is. Likewise, as denizens of the internet and private citizens with First Amendment Rights, we can all laugh about what a moron Burress is, but Bloomberg, as an agent of government, still has some responsibility toward exercising a presumption of innocence. Furthermore, even if Bloomberg feels the need to comment on Burress's apparent guilt, his remarks about the motives and actions of hospital staff are shrouded in far more speculation (I'd imagine most of us can "speculate" just as well), but that's hardly the same as a finding of guilt in a court of law.
Bottom line, I'm no fan of Buress, or Bloomberg and am perfectly happy to let them all make each other look like fools.
Please cite precedent.
Yeah, and I think he also found out that Plaxico stopped at a bodega, purchased a forty of Chesterfield Ale, a box of Phillies Blunts, and some potato chips containing (gasp!) trans-fats. Worse still, he failed to pay 5 cents for the plastic shopping bag that they put it all in...
The horror. The horror.
Good thing NYC has that billionaire tool keeping an eye on everyone. No doubt they'll elect him to a third term (or did the legislature just go ahead and appoint him to it already?).
Screw the law when it compromises your God given rights. The right to self-defense is non-negotiable.
I agree. A holster would have been a smart choice.
I’ll check that out. Thanks!
Bloomberg, who has been leading a national crusade against illegal guns, noted that under New York law if you are convicted of carrying a loaded illegal handgun “you go automatically to three-and-a-half years in the slammer.”
Plaxico doesn’t deserve to go to jail for 3 1/2 years for having a gun. He has the right to carry a fire arm. Screw New York and their assault on peoples rights.
I am not Gianys fan, but I agree the whole team is not guilty because of what one individual did.
Just a little clarification but Burress’ firearm was unlicensed. Now, it’s a totally different argument as to whether the law is valid but it is on the books and Plaxico should be treated the same as any other citizen would in the same instance. No better, no worse.
Isn't that what the Heller case in D.C. was all about?
I can’t wait until “ Law & Order” has a show about this in a few months...Wanna bet that the perp is transformed into a tobacco chewing redneck Nascar driver?
Agreed.
My point was about the law. It’s a joke.
My thoughts, too. Out of NY State, and preferably somewhere without an NFL team or NFL fans. I'm not saying I think Plax is innocent, but the crime of gun ownership shouldn't carry a 3.5 yr mandatory, that's friggin NUTS.
Maybe not for this incident, but I know they are all guilty of SOMETHING. Thugs.
/AngryPatsFan mode
What an idiot...
Plexico Burress.. the Barney Fife of the NFL, thank God the Steelers got rid of this punk.
Gee, maybe Plaxico and Mike Vick can play catch together.
I'm sure he'll be charged just like every other thug caught with a gun in NYC. And I'll wager that the first thing to go in the plea bargain is the firearms charges. NYC has a history of dropping weapons charges in leiu of a big fine and "community service".
But it gives SuperBloomy something to rail about in his conquest to disarm the country.
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