Free Plaxico Burress

The Wall Street Journal ^ | DECEMBER 4, 2008 | DAVID B. KOPEL

[krogers58]

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.

[justiceseeker93]

As the Wall Street Journal article states, this New York law may well be unconstitutional - in violation of the Second Amendment.

But whether it is or not, whether you like Burress and his team or not, it's obvious that, because of his stature as a prominent and affluent athlete, he is being used as a convenient "whipping boy" and "poster child" to promote the gun contol agenda of leftist politicians and the MSM.

The mandatory 3 1/2 year sentence for a violation of this sort is grossly excessive.

[dbz77]

Maybe Plaxico Burless should have shot an unarmed black man or two, like what the NYPD did to Sean Bell, Patrick Dorismond, and Amadou Diallo.

[dbz77]

Certainly he could’ve hired body guards .

Armed bodyguards?

[TBP]

I’d love to be on Burress’s jury.

[Shooter 2.5]

This guy was playing with a forest fire.
In August.
During a drought.
Next to an oil refinery.

While showering in gasoline.

[neverdem]

Mandatory Minimums, Maximum Stupidity - The criminal penalty NFL star Plaxico Burress faces is inflexible and unfair

[ex 98C MI Dude]

The one that says “two legs good; two legs with a badge better.’

The sheep are getting deep lately.

[Dead Corpse]

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/130429.html?success=1

Not all cops are created equal either. Funny ol’ world ain’t it?

[wastedyears]

Don’t you know, econ? A finger magically squeezing the trigger, making the gun fire, is an “accidental discharge.” You know how they always say, those guns always accidentally shooting and people end up dead. No wonder people keep them locked in safes.

/sarc

[wastedyears]

NYC residents aren’t issued permits.

[econjack]

It will be interesting to see if he faces the mandatory 3 1/2 year sentence as required by NY law. My guess is that he will not go to jail.

[bamahead]

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.



Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!

[bamahead]

With any right comes responsibility...something that Plax obviously doesn’t understand. But the lack of responsibility by the few is no reason or excuse for the continued blanket disparagement of this right by the City of New York.

[AGreatPer]

"The mandatory 3 1/2 year sentence for a violation of this sort is grossly excessive."

Yes it is. That is why Plex should have known the rules.

I have no feelings for the man one way or the other.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Overpaid jackasses who fall asleep in gun safety class. The glaring issued not addressed: Why was a round chambered?

[mysterio]

this seems like a major over-reaction to somebody accidentally shooting himself.

It's because Bloomberg is an authoritarian who needs to be barred from public office for life.

[kbennkc]

No one but leo’s have the right to carry in a bar

My rights , while protected by the Constitution , are given to me by God and are not suspended by geography . They are frequently infringed upon , but never lost unless I give them up .

[do the dhue]

He broke the law. If it were me, would I get the same punishment?

But should any of us be punished for our right to bear arms?

What if the law is unconstitutional? Would you fight it? Would you want people to help you fight it?

His negligence is not on trial. His right to keep and bear arms is.

[ßuddaßudd]

Some of us dont pick and choose which laws we abide by. I dont question his right to own, just his choice to conceal and go clubbing. Shooting himself was purely optional...

[slnk_rules]

He broke the law. If it were me, would I get the same punishment?

An illegal law is not a law. It may be an expression of tyranny, but it is not a law. It is a moral obligation to resist tyrants...., even if you are an overpaid coddled athelte.