NJ Gov. Chris Christie commutes Aitken’s sentence

The Daily Caller ^ | December 20, 2010 | Amanda Carey

[Scanian]

New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie commuted the sentence of Brian Aitken’s Monday, reducing his sentence from seven years in prison to time already served. According to Christie’s order, he will be released as soon as it’s “administratively possible.”

As The Daily Caller previously reported, Aitken, 27, was arrested in New Jersey in 2009 after police found unloaded guns in the trunk of his car that had been purchased legally in Colorado. New Jersey law requires residents who want to transport firearms legally to request a permit from a local law enforcement office and produce a letter stating why it is necessary for them to carry a gun.

Aitken’s attorney argued that his client was innocent of any offense because the firearms were legally purchased (at a Bass Pro Shop), properly stored, and unloaded. And though New Jersey has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, Aitken’s attorney said his client did not violate any law because he was in the middle of moving residences between two states.

Nonetheless, Aitken was sentenced to seven years in prison in August. His supporters say the judge refused to accept evidence supporting his defense. He was convicted of the same kind of felony a criminal who had bought guns with intent to commit a crime would have faced.

Nothing about Aitken’s past, however, indicated that he was a threat to the public, let alone himself. After separating from his wife in 2008, Aitken moved from Colorado to New Jersey to be closer to his son.

Thanks to Christie, Aitken will now be able spend Christmas at home.

[Ancesthntr]

I stand corrected.

The good thing is that he can still walk through the process for a pardon - and he should definitely do so.

[misterrob]

He granted the request out to him. Blame the guy’s lawyer for not asking for more.

And he had previously gotten rid of the judge