I know this will not be a surprise to many on PAFOA

http://blog.nj.com/njv_publicblog/20...uffer_fro.html

Proof NJ Gun Crimes suffer from lack of Prosecution .
Posted by SOTR, July 20, 2009 2:30PM

Late last week there was a shootout in Jersey City NJ involving a convicted felon already under investigation for a previous armed robbery, and his girlfriend as active accomplice.

When two plainclothes detectives approached the two suspects on the street in the early morning hours one of the suspects already barred by Federal Law from even touching a firearm, immediately pulled out a shotgun and opened fire on the Officers. This lead to a standoff which culminated in a barricade situation in which the Jersey City Special Response Team stormed the apartment and a second gun battle ensued, resulting in the deaths of both suspects and the injury of five Jersey City Officers, including two critically .

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Jersey City Police Chief Thomas Coomey addressed the media at a press conference concerning the incident and the Officers condition in the Hospital parking lot. During that press conference Chief Coomey, understandably shaken and upset succumbed to his emotions and bellowed about the need to do something about getting the guns off the streets, that the firearm used is "only used for hunting man" and that in his view "the shotgun in question was an assualt weapon, to be used only by the Military and Police".

While one can certainly understand to a degree Chief Commey's outburst given the circumstances, that is not an excuse to jettison ones professional demeanor and take up the absurd mantra of even more restrictions on law abiding citizens because of the actions of criminals that clearly show their unabashed willingness to flaunt the existing laws at every opportunity.

A quick check of the follow up article in the Star Ledger the next day shows that one of the Officers shot had already had a previous run in with one of the shooters. Officer Marc Dinardo, the most seriously wounded, had arrested the shooter and suspect Hassan Skakur back in 2002 for being a felon in possession of a firearm, a direct violation of both State and Federal Law. Skakur served a tad more then four years for that offense, which calls for a minimum and mandatory sentence of five years in Federal Prison. Link to the story here http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...details_c.html

Now contrast Skakur's sentence with another NJ Criminal, also reported on by the Star Ledger, not quite a year ago. In that case Shawntrail Lee was found guilty of being a felon in possesion of a firearm and was sentenced to FIFETEEN YEARS in Federal Prison! Mr Lee's trial and conviction took place in Augusta Georgia.Link here http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...ison_sent.html

The citizens of this state need to ask themsevles why in a state claiming to be so 'hard' on gun crime could sentence so lightly a known felon with an extensive rap sheet tried and convicted of illegal possession of a firearm punishing him with only a little more then 50 months in jail; but the SAME EXACT charge in Georgia, one of those States that Bryan Miller excoriates for its "weak gun laws" sentenced the violator with 15 years in the Federal Pen.

I deeply sympathize with the injured Officers and wish them all a full and speedy recovery. Frankly they did us all a favor as tax payers by disposing of a couple of sociopathic violent animals. But the fact remains as long as the State Legislature, The Governor, the Attorney General's Office and certain Law Enforcement Officials continue to parrot the bold face lies of the Anti gun crowd that seeks to put the gun in jail, rather than the criminal, these types of shootings will continue.

By refusing to thoroughly punish those who transgress the law, and posturing against firearms as a pretext for their failure of policy, yet more incidents will continue to take place in New Jersey's "gun free zone", while the rights of the law abiding will continue to be assailed as a sacrificial lamb on the alter of political correctness by spineless politicians who have no interest in anything other then their next campaign.

In a stunning twist even Paul Helmke , President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence recently admitted to an Akron Ohio Newspaper that "guns dont kill people, people do." Something anyone with an once of common sense and the ability to engage in critical thinking and logic has known for years.

If Mr Helmke can acknowledge such an obvious and fundamental truth after years of denial, there's still a slight hope the Leaders of New Jersey will reach the same conclusion. But the first step down that path is to stop hiding behind emotion and misrepresentation and admit the truth, we have a violent crime problem not because of the availability of guns, but because of the distinct lack of elected and appointed officials willing to uphold their oath of office and give voice to something we all know. Lock up the criminals for a long time and leave the law abiding, freedom loving citizens alone!

part of one of the poster comments
The Judicial and detention systems in NJ are broken!!!


Career criminals are 'getting away with murder' because of the rampant practice of plea bargaining in the courts in NJ. This in unacceptable, criminals who do the crime should do the time, NO exceptions, NO reductions of sentences for any reason, period.

We have to demand to our elected officials that inmates should NO LONGER be allowed to leave early because of "good behavior" while serving time. This should also be eliminated entirely!

The prison system in NJ is a joke! Criminals and gang bangers openly conduct their business while inside. This needs to end immediately. Lets turn prison back in to prison, not an enclosed playground!!!

For those who insist on obtaining, possessing, and using illegal guns to hurt, kill, and maim innocent people (and police officers), let's demand to our elected officials for the implementation of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Exile
">Project Exile in New Jersey!



What would've happened to "Dymanic Duo" if they weren't killed by police???
I'll tell you. They would have initially received a 60 year prison sentence, which would have been pleaded down to 20 years because they would've turned informant. Once in prison, they would have served a fraction of the time, then let our early because of good behavior. They would have returned to our communities and killed again (maybe another officer)!

You know the worst part about all this? Our police forces are caught in the middle of it! Our officers are forced to deal with the same violent people over and over again. I can only imagine how stressful and frustrating it must be on EVERY police officer who serves in NJ. It's no wonder there is a suicide problem among police departments in the Garden State!!!

New Jersey's Judicial and detention system are too lenient on violent criminals. Yet, NJ's gun laws are too oppressive on NJ law-abiding citizens!
There is something critically wrong here and it needs to be fixed.

Let's START oppressing the criminals!
Let's STOP oppressing the law-abiding citizens!!