Posted on 12/04/2008 5:34:20 AM PST by St. Louis Conservative
New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress is facing a mandatory 3½ years in prison and the end of his football career. His crime? Not having a license, which New York City never would have issued him, for the exercise of his constitutional right to bear arms.
Plaxico Burress is led to his arraignment in Manhattan. To be sure, Mr. Burress got caught because of what appears to have been stupid and irresponsible behavior connected with the handgun. But he does not face prison for shooting himself. His impending mandatory sentence highlights the unfairness and unconstitutionality of New York City's draconian gun laws.
Mr. Burress had previously had a handgun carry permit issued by Florida, for which he was required to pass a fingerprint-based background check. As a player for the Giants, he moved to Totowa, N.J., where he kept a Glock pistol. And last Friday night, he reportedly went to the Latin Quarter nightclub in midtown Manhattan carrying the loaded gun in his sweatpants. Because New York state permits to possess or carry handguns are not issued to nonresidents, Mr. Burress could not apply for a New York City permit.
At the nightclub, the handgun accidentally discharged, shooting Mr. Burress in the right thigh. He was not seriously injured, but he has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Kopel is a 2nd Ammendent advocate. It’s abvious that he’s using this high profile case to bring the spotlight on himself.
Obviosuly, all the other schlemeils who have been charged with the same crime in recent months didn’t merit his attention.
Media whore.
OH B.S. I am sure he could have gotten a carry permit if he at least tried. Many high profile celebs get them and carry.
They will trump up charges against Burress and try to give him maximum time for gun possession. Yet some scumbag crackhead mugger will get probation and be back on the streets in 30 days.
Hell yes NYC gun laws are unconstitutional. Kelo vs DC decision applies there too IMHO.
"I plaxidentally told the be-yatch neither of us would have any of the lottery and tore up the winning ticket, then hit her in the face with a forty ounce!"
He is a stupid thug that deserves what he gets. He could have easily injured or killed someone else. He isn’t required to carry large amounts of cash or “bling”. He knew he was breaking the law. Let him pay the price. This isn’t a second amendment issue, and in fact, hurts second amendment advocacy.
He’s probley a liberal moron, let him burn in jail.
He is no doubt in the enemy camp and supports socislism in general.
-bflr-
Lemme see...did Plexiglas vote for McCain or Obama?
He gets just what he deserves.
Who is going to listen to him if he isn’t talking about a high profile case? The guys who fought DC waited for a long time for the “perfect” case to come along - are they media whores, or striking when the iron is hot?
Actually he is not a thug. He turned out to be a pretty good receiver in the NFL. I think some are painting with a pretty broad brush. Ya, it was stupid to take a gun anywhere in N.Y. But CWPs are impossible to get there. Even for high profile people.
Bloomburg is the one who should be in jail for his sting opperations in other states. And of course his big mouth
HIPAA has tied up doctors and nurses with the threat of privacy law violations, while the City can commandeer any info they want under a “law enforcement” exemption.
This is a big time, high quality hospital that regularly treats celebrities with discretion. We may not like the double standard, but celebrities need a break from the paparazzi.
The real problem is NYC enforcement of the law and its arbitrariness.
The bigger problem, for Hizzonner Blommy, will come when he wants treatment at this hospital and they remember his little stunt for publicity.
Most celebs hire bodyguards for protection. Burress had the money but was ignorant. Trying to go through a metal detector to get into a club with a handgun was clearly a lost fumble.
I never thought firearms possession would be an elite only privlege while Mr common citizen in New York has no personal protection, because he can’t afford to buy his 2nd Amendment rights. Yet most elitists have armed bodyguards.
Could they be afraid of criminals too?
Burris, despite all of his off-field antics, is a celebrated person and thus exposed to NFL nut cases (primarily Eagle, and Cowpie fans). He has a legitmate Constitutional right to carry a firearm for personal protection...he should, however, be charged with illegally discharging a firearm in a public place.
He may be a media whore and Plaxico Burriss is an idiot.
It doesn’t make him anyless right.
I am a CCW permit holder in NY state and my CCW permit is valid in any county EXCEPT NYC !!!
Why am I barred from carrying my CCW in NYC? as opposed to Rochester or Albany or Watertown where I can carry my weapon at any time?
He broke the law. He knew he was breaking the law. He had other options. He was drinking. He is a boob and a thug. He thought being able to catch a ball made him above the law.
Sending him to jail would at least prevent him from carrying in the future. He obviously can't be trusted with a gun and don't call me a clown.
...yawn....another pro athlete shot in a club...who cares....happens every week.
And Ray Lewis is a pretty good defenseman. He's a good player the laws do not apply. I don't think so. He took a loaded weapon into a crowded bar and shot himself. He would've shot himself whether or not he had a permit to carry. He should be charged with 2 counts of dumb-a$$.
You betcha. Sounds good to me.
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