Posted on 12/10/2010 8:46:49 PM PST by FTJM
Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey says he will likely make a decision on the case of Brian Aitken within the next couple of weeks. In a video released yesterday on Christie’s YouTube site, the governor acknowledged he is aware of the case, has begun to review documents and said, “I suspect I will be in a position to make a decision on whether or not I’ll intervene prior to Christmas.
As The Daily Caller previously reported, 27-year-old Aitken was arrested in New Jersey in 2009 when police found he was transporting legally-owned and properly-stored firearms. This past August, he was sentenced to seven years in jail. Now, he is seeking clemency from the conservative governor.
Aitken’s attorney has argued that not only did his client not break the law because the guns were purchased legally (from a Bass Pro Shop), but he was also exempt from the state’s gun laws because he was moving residences – from Colorado to New Jersey.
Aitken’s lawyer, along with his supporters, say the judge who tried the case ignored evidence supporting Aitken’s innocence.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
bttt
I’ve been following this story and it seems like a slam-dunk for a pardon.
If Christie commutes the sentence, it is time for the gun owner to change residence again. Move to a gun friendly state, and never never look back.
Another problem I have with Christie. This is a no brainer. This should be a full pardon and when the guy gets it, move over the Delaware River to PA where gun owners receive some respect. New Jersey blows no matter who runs it.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Total pardon.
Otherwise he still has a record - and on a gun charge - wouldn't that mean he'd never be allowed to own a gun again?
I’ve been watching this case, too. It really presents Christie with a dilemma.
On the one hand, he has a history of being very anti-gun, anti-2nd Amendment, and is Governor of New Jersey, one of the most anti-gun States in the Union. I have no doubt he’d rather leave the guy in prison, and really wishes this would just go away.
However, if he has any hopes of running for national office in the future he’s politically astute and smart enough to know that failure to pardon this man will kill his chances with conservatives.
I’d say that if he does grant a pardon it’s probably a clear indication he has national ambitions and is willing to dissemble to get there.
Unless the coverage of this case by conservative sites has been wildly inaccurate, Christie should issue an immediate pardon and offer Aitken a sincere apology.
There is one POL that is worse than a “gun grabber”, it is one that hates and defies the limits placed on government by the U.S. Constitution.
We are rapidly approaching Tar, Feather and pitchfork time.
Please, Christie.
Pardon this man, return his rights and property.
Slam dunk for not merely a pardon, but also to call for the legislature to impeach a judge who ignored the letter of the law because of his peronal bias on an issue.
I grew up in that gunowner’s Hell, and while I didn’t leave for that reason, I will never return because of it. This case reinforces my view.
Pardon this man, return his rights and property.
... And throw that stupid judge in jail for 7 years.
Sounds hopeful to me.
Exactly the way I analyzed it.
I’d also add that if he does not, look for him to play ball with the Dims and RINOs after this first wave of being a fiscal conservative.
Most likely it will be well supervised probation rather than incarceration.
The story is not as simple as it seems.
I think Christie’s statement is an indication that Aitken will at least be out of jail. Not sure if the sentence will be commuted or if Aitken will be pardoned, but with the sitting Governor giving a public timeline on the decision of one man’s jail sentence, it looks to me like Christie is going to get Aitken out of prison.
I believe Christie has already removed the judge for some other violation, cant remember what. If lawyers can call a defendant’s character into question, why cant the same be done on judges. Im not saying automatically overturn every ruling the judge has, but if something like this comes up and this judge was involved, cite the judge’s ineffectiveness as a reason for appeal.
“Now, he is seeking clemency from the conservative governor.”
I like what Cristie is doing very much. But in all fairness, he is not a conservative in but the narrowest sense of the term.
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