[Seven Ring]

What a peice of crap. Apparently the average "citizen's" life isn't as important as a Leo's according to Gov. Pataki. He called for a special session of the NYS legislature on Friday to "..enact tougher gun control laws and police protection." In his "Crimes Against Law Enforcement Officers Bill", there will be an increase in the penalties for criminals who injure or kill police officers. The sentences could include the death penalty. "You shoot a cop, you go to prison for 20 years...(and) with our bill, there would be a death penalty for killing a cop," Pataki said at a Manhattan news conference. "That's just common sense." WWWHHHAAATTT!!! Common sense!?! You've GOT to be kidding me! Hey George, HOW "BOUT THE DEATH PENALTY FOR ANY SCUMBAG WHO KILLS SOMEONE? Kill a Leo, you die. Kill a meber of my family or one of my friends, you die. No offense to Leo's, but this P.O.S. is just using this to grandstand. It's a freakin' insult to every New York "citizen" and you bet I'm gonna be e-mailing and calling. Man, I love New York, but between the taxes and the politics here it's going to be hard not to end up moving to another state in a few years.

 

[Seven Ring]

Grandstanding

The regular session would begin next month anyways. He calls for a special session before the end of the year to have the Republican-led Senate and the Democratic-led Assembly come together, but he CAN'T REQUIRE THAT THEY VOTE. HHHMMMM? (Not that they would agree on anything anyways.) I know there's a token "death penalty" already, but from the gist of this I'm getting from his proposed bill, is that it's a done deal to the chair,needle,chamber,whatever if someone kills an officer. (Which I AGREE with.) However, what I don't agree with is the apparent division that Magilla states in his post. Sorry, but there might be a difference between the "average joe sixpack" and a Leo, but there shouldn't be in the penalties for taking an innocent life of ANY type. What if that "average" person is a doctor,nurse,teacher,fireman,etc.? If someone takes a family member of mine, I certainly don't want any lesser of a penalty for the SOB than he would've gotten had it been a Leo. I've already e-mailed his office for further clarification to see if it's any different than what I'm reading in the newspapers. If it is or not, I'll relay his response. Magilla, when you say that most jurisdictions have additional penalties or sentences for assaulting a Leo as opposed to a citizen, do you know if those same jurisdictions have different readings on the death penalties for killing either a Leo or a civilian? This is the first I've heard of a difference in the penalty for killing someone, although I profess I'm not a lawyer,judge, or politition of any type.

 

[Seven Ring]

The original point of this thread

was to point out that Pataki is USING this for political purposes and that ALL lives should be valued equally. I don't think anyone here is anti-Leo. It's unfortunate that they (Leos) are going to be the focal point of this. Hey, GREAT for them if this passes, but let's make it for everyone. I did LE for 3 years back in the early 80's, so I've had a taste of it. Interestingly enough, my neighborhood has to be the most secure around as my 2 immediate neighbors are city cops, across the street is another, two Deputies, a Prison supervisor, and on the other corner is a State Trooper. While I haven't had a chance to speak to any except for the city cop on one side of me this morning, he said what I thought even BEFORE I told him about my view. His wife is a teacher and he has 3 kids. His thought process was that while it'd be good for him, why would the lives of his wife, 2 daughters and son be considered any less? So while I don't think that anyone is exactly anti-Leo, I also don't think that Leo's are anti-citizen.

 

[Seven Ring]

Update

The session is going to be held this Wednesday, so there's still plenty of time for politics. No reply from my e-mail directly to his office yet. Then this from Pataki on Monday: He ruled out linking the bills he is compelling the Legislatue to consider to any other legislative proposals, including those sought by the Democratic-led Assembly. (I'm not sure what those proposals are yet.) From the paper: "That stalemate could mean Wednesday's special session could result in no action." Wow, then the "blame-game" and fingerpointing-politics can really begin. Also: "There will be no linkage here," Pataki said. "We should have good bills to protect us from illegal handguns and to protect our police officers, or the Assembly is going to again do what they have done so often and block these laws." Oookkaayy. You don't even have to read anything into that. Incredible. By the way Fraser, I didn't realize what the NYS Supreme Court did, thanks for the info. This makes it stink even worse.

 

[Seven Ring]

Politics makes strange bedfellows

is an understatement. Thursday's paper, buried on page 12:"State Lawmakers and Gov.Pataki agreed on two Bills Wednesday that would strengthen gun control laws and increase penalties for violence against police officers. In the end, Pataki dropped his proposal to include the death penalty as a possible punishment for killing a police officer, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver dropped provisions that would have addressed legal retail gun sales." Blah, blah, blah. Result: Life without parole in place of the death penalty, and both sides can claim victory and place blame. Here's how it works: Pataki can now claim that he fought for the death penalty while those "soft Democrats" foiled him, thus they (Democrats) are against Leo's and that he (Pataki ) is not only tough on criminals, but also looking out for Leo's. He (Pataki) also can claim that he is looking out for the business of firearm dealers as he "blocked" more stringent rules and laws on "legal retail gun sales". Now the Democrats can say that they've been thwarted in their efforts by those "gun-crazy" Republicans in an attempt for more gun controls and the death penalty is now shelved again in any form. Excuse me, "legal retail gun sales"? I'm going to PUBLICLY put a letter in the paper challenging this IDIOT (SILVER) to come here into ANY "legal retail" gun shop and purchase a handgun. There's not any that would sell to him if he doesn't have a permit. Even if he does, he'll have to jump through the same hoops we all do here. BUT WAIT. There's an additional update: Today's paper (Friday) buried on page 8: "The state will hire 100 STATE TROOPERS as part of a new effort to crack down on illegal gun traffiking. Under the $4.5 million project, state police investigators and federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will work with local police depts. to target illicit gun sales. The officers will start over the next two weeks. "We will go after guns from the the streets to the source and not just in New York, but outside of New York,"Pataki said. The Troopers will be deputized as federal agents to go after the sources of the guns, often people in Southern states with more lax gun control laws , said ATF special agent in charge William McMahon. A recent ATF study found 80 percent of the guns used in crimes in NY City were originally bought out of state. Annually, 12,000 to 15,000 guns are seized by police statewide, about half in NY City, Mcmahon said. Blah, Blah, Blah. Then: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said Republicans have failed to support a Bill that would put more stringent requirements on legal gun sellers. WWWOOOWWWW!!!! My head is spinning. I'm going to e-mail and call Silver's office. "Legal retail gun sales" are not the problem Sheldon! Hope you "Legal Retail Gun Sellers" in the South have your "T's crossed and your i's dotted! I'm all for Leo's going after the punks doing the illegal gun transactions, but I hope they (Leo's) are rewarded by the state by actually having the state follow through with some tough sentencing with NO FREAKIN' PLEA DEALS! Or would that be the Federal Government seeing how these troopers will be deputized? By the way, is this the first time state officers have been deputized like this? It's the first time I've heard of it.