Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Plaxico Burress Indicted

Because I always try to do what Il Principe says, I'm linking to this story in Reuters.

Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was indicted on Monday on two felony counts accusing him of criminal possession of a weapon and one misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment, prosecutors said.

Burress, 31, who caught the winning touchdown in the Giants' Super Bowl victory in February 2008, was released by the team after a November 2008 incident in which he accidentally shot himself in the leg at a New York nightclub.


When we talked about this last time, I quoted Bryan Miller lamenting the fact that Burress hadn't been suspended. In today's report it says he "was released by the team." Is that different?

Under New York's strict gun laws, Plaxico is charged with possession of a gun, possession of a loaded gun outside the home or business, and possession of a loaded gun with the intent to harm another. If convicted he'll probably do some time, which could range from a year or two all the way up to 15.

What's your opinion? What would be wrong with putting him in the same category as the white collar criminals? For them I usually recommend strict supervision and heavy fines but no jail time. Wouldn't this guy be better able to contribute as a professional athlete than as a convict?

What's your opinion? For me the question is this, does society need to be protected from Plaxico Burress to the point that he needs to be locked away? What do you think?

Please leave a comment.

6 comments:

  1. The same day that Plaxico had his negligent discharge, a police chief and police firearms instructor also had the same thing happen in Ohio. Plaxico will be a felon while nothing at all will happen to the chief (and nothing should I may add).

    So, Plaxico is a victim of geography. Sad. Not exactly what our founding fathers had in mind I am sure.

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  2. This is a case where Plaxico is actually guilty of what he is accused of and the jury should do the right thing.

    Of course, what I consider the right thing differs from yours, I bet.

    The jury should find him not guilty by using the power of jury nullification (look it up). The laws shouldn't be on the books. Here is a case of the power of the jury box to change the laws....of course most judges and prosecutors won't tell the jury they have that right.

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  3. If I carry my firearm illegally without a permit I am committing a felony.

    Burress should be treated no differently than I would if I were caught carrying illegally in NY.

    Personally I don't think it should be a crime, but since it IS a felony it should be applied equally.

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  4. Don't do the crime if you don't want to do the time. The laws suck in NY, but he should get no special treatment. What message would that send?

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  5. What about the idea that he already hurt himself, both physically and career-wise. Should that be taken into consideration, sort-of like time served.

    Same thing when someone is charged with negligence because their kid finds the gun and shoots himself. The guy already paid such a high price losing his son, should he have to do time too?

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  6. He's going to get the book thrown at him because he's black. Just like Micheal Vick.

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