Frank Jack Fiamingo

I would like to personally thank all the members who showed up for the meeting, and all the new members who signed up tonight. Like Dan Schmutter said, it is an EXCITING time to be a gun owner in NJ. Nothing here is ever EASY, but I think if you pay close attention you can begin to taste a little of the freedom that is coming our way. As you learned tonight, there are a LOT of things going on right now in our state. Several important lawsuits are being litigated, new intelligent legislation is being considered, misguided policies are being challenged, and *WE* are right smack in the middle of it all. And when I say *WE* I mean *ALL* of us. We are now faced with an opportunity to make SIGNIFICANT changes in the way NJ gun owners are treated, but it is going to take *ALL* of us getting involved in order to make it happen. There is no reason we can't get what we deserve.

I appreciate that. The immediate problem is finding someone with a video camera who is willing to tape the meeting. We can figure the rest out later. Anyone who is so inclined, I would greatly appreciate it if you could videotape the meeting. The NJ2AS will pick up the cost of the tape, of course. I am looking forward to see those of you who can make it. Thanks,

I will put out a request to the membership to see if anyone can do this for us. I am not sure what our web capabilities are, but I will find out. Also, I will have to get permission from the speakers. I don't think that will be a problem.

BTW... for those who want to get a jump on next month's meeting, it will be on Wednesday March 16, 2011 at the American Legion Post 129 on 2025 Church Road in Toms River at 7:30. The featured speaker will be Steve Lonegan the state director of Americans for Prosperity. For those who have heard Steve speak, you know that he is one of the most inspirational Conservative leaders in our state. Steve is also a STAUNCH supporter of the RKBA. We are looking forward to his presentation.

Hey Mike. Sorry we won't see you. We'll catch you next time. We'll make sure we save some of the agenda for you. There is PLENTY to go around.

Thanks to all who are planning to attend. I am looking forward to seeing everyone. This will be a GREAT meeting. Both Anthony and Dan are EXCEPTIONAL presenters. I think everyone will be impressed with all of the activity that is happening in our state with regard to gun ownership. It will also be an opportunity for you to add YOUR input, and to get involved in some of these activities. Lately some of the usual gun prohibitionist moles have been popping their heads out of their respective holes (i will allow you to use you own imaginations). They are uttering the same nonsensical drivel that has oozed out of their orifices for years. "Guns are bad". "Why does ANYONE need more than one gun a month?". "Let's limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds". "That rifle looks scary - it should be banned". Basically, the idea is to disarm DECENT, LAW-ABIDING people and somehow that is magically going to prevent gun crime, gun accidents, and crazy people from killing themselves and others. Their logic is demented. It is going to be up to *US* to put the pressure on our legislators to IGNORE these pathetic, misguided, gun grabbers. There is only ONE way for us to be effective. We need to speak with ONE *VERY* large, LOUD voice. The NJ2AS wants to provide you with that voice. It takes numbers. It takes all of you getting involved, and making a commitment. *WE* are going to continue what we are doing no matter what. You will have to decide if you are going to help us to be successful. I have heard people say that they don't know what we are doing. Well, it is time for you to find out. You won't accomplish that by sitting back and waiting for something to happen. If YOU want to help make something happen, then JOIN us. Otherwise, the question isn't "what are WE doing?" - the question is "What are *YOU* doing?". We are developing a rather LARGE agenda, but as they say "You have to be in it to win it". Large agendas take a lot of effort, and a lot of people. So, bring your wives, bring your friends, bring your neighbors, and let's get this DONE already!

This thread just emphasizes how bad things are in NJ. Even when you *TRY* to use your best judgement - you are still on shaky ground. If you get the wrong prosecutor and/or the wrong judge, you could wind up behind bars *EVEN* if you did NOT break any laws. The NJ2AS has been working with a number of legislators to create legislation that would insure that a law-abiding individual, with no criminal record, who is not in the process of committing a crime, with no evidence of intention to commit a crime, can always legally transport his firearms unloaded and locked away.

The NJ2AS will be running the Florida CCW Licensing Program at our monthly meeting on Wednesday February 16th at Gun For Hire on 75 Rutgers Street in Belleville, NJ. Processing starts at 7:30PM. The cost for the processing is $25.00 for NJ2AS members and $50.00 for non-members. You can join the NJ2AS at the meeting and get both a membership and the processing for $50.00 Also, the featured speakers that evening will be Anthony Colandro, Firearms Training expert and our host for the evening, and attorney Dan Schmutter who successfully filed amicus briefs in both the Heller and McDonald Supreme Court cases on behalf of the Jews For The Preservation Of Firearms. Both Anthony and Dan are EXCELLENT presenters. It will be a phenomenal meeting. I hope you can all attend. There is no cost to attend the meeting, and everyone is invited. Please feel free to bring any interested friends or family members. Thank you,

Yeah - my fault. I forgot to include it.

The way I see it. Why Gun Control Laws Do Not Work!

Sorry, I tried to copy it from another forum... and it EXPLODED!!! :-) Fixed it now! This is IMPORTANT guys. I hope you will consider this. MPC has been the ONLY one ready and willing to KICK SOME a** FOR US!

For those who can attend: The Friends Of Michael Patrick Carroll are holding a fund raiser for this tireless defender of our right to keep and bear arms. The event is being held on Wednesday Evening January 26, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at CAPPIA CAFE 19 Market Street Morristown, NJ The cost for the evening is $250 per person. Most of us blow that much on guns and ammo in a few weeks. THIS is an INVESTMENT in our FREEDOM!!! Please R.S.V.P. by January 19, 2011 to Elaine Turner at [email protected] or (973) 722-9517 Please make check payable to "Carroll for Assembly" and mail to: Carroll for Assembly P.O. Box 828 Morristown, 07963-0828 Guys, even if you can't attend, PLEASE make a donation as generous as you are able to this true Patriot's campaign. I will be attending and I hope to see as many of you as possible. THANK YOU!

Due to the prediction of a major snow storm, and based on the aftermath of the most recent storm, the Board of the NJ2AS and I have reluctantly decided to CANCEL this Wednesday's meeting and the Florida CCW program originally scheduled to be held in Belleville. Although it may not turn out to be as bad as first predicted, I would rather err on the side of safety. I apologize for the inconvenience, and I will try to reschedule the meeting ASAP. Thank you for your understanding.

Due to the prediction of a major snow storm, and based on the aftermath of the most recent storm, the Board of the NJ2AS and I have reluctantly decided to CANCEL this Wednesday's meeting and the Florida CCW program originally scheduled to be held in Belleville. Although it may not turn out to be as bad as first predicted, I would rather err on the side of safety. I apologize for the inconvenience, and I will try to reschedule the meeting ASAP. Thank you for your understanding.

Unfortunately, due to the major snow storm expected to hit our area between Tuesday and Wednesday, the board of the NJ2AS has decided to cancel this Wednesday's (1/12/2011) meeting and Florida CCW program. We will try to reschedule both ASAP. We are reluctant to have our members and the community take the chance of travelling in questionable conditions.

Hi Caine, I am in the process of making that decision. I will post an answer here probably this evening, but no later than tomorrow morning. I will also post a message on www.nj2as.com.

Alan Gottlieb distributed an email expressing his sentiments regarding the recent tragedy in Arizona. The entire content of his email has been posted at NJ2AS and can be seen here. I would like to give the families time to grieve, and those who were injured time to heal before commenting further. I think Alan's statement adequately expresses what most of us are feeling about this horrible tragedy.

Yes, good point Ken. We need to show them that we are still here and that we appreciate their support. And as you aptly point out, there are "degrees" of agreement. It is a good idea not to assume too much, and to keep our eyes open. The wind can change direction under the wrong set of circumstances. Thanks for the posting, Ken.

That sounds perfectly fine to me.

I will put something together. It will have to wait until after the meetings this week. I want to begin planning a Statehouse Steps Rally soon as well. More on that soon. In the meantime, don't be afraid to pick up the phone and make calls. THAT is why they are there. Their JOB is to hear from their constituents. That would be *US*! I'll tell you a secret. It is MUCH easier to do than you think. Before I got involved with the NJ2AS, I had NEVER made a call to a representative in my life. Now I do it all the time. It is a piece of cake. We are just too used to hearing people tell us that it won't do any good. Well guess what, if we don't MAKE those calls, they are *CERTAIN* not to do any good. .

I apologize for the repost. I missed seeing this here. But there is an important point to be made. We CANNOT afford to wait and see how this plays out. We have to take an ACTIVE role in making sure the members of both the Assembly and Senate Law and Public Safety Committees UNDERSTAND that we are FIRMLY behind Assemblyman Carroll. Trust me, they are sitting back just HOPING that we will just go back to busily raising our families and making a living. They are COUNTING on us to forget all about the "silly nonsense". If we don't continue the momentum we built up in 2010, we will lose the fight. This is an ALL-OUT ASSAULT. We got their attention last year. The ANJRPC filed a "Right To Carry" suit against the State, and a powerful Governor was "convinced" to commute Brian Aitken's sentence. Those things didn't happen because people were waiting to see. They happened because PEOPLE HAVE HAD IT, AND SAID SO! This is the time to INCREASE the pressure on the committees and the legislature. They have to KNOW that we are in this for the long haul. I they even THINK that we are willing to "let up", the entire effort will GO STRAIGHT DOWN THE DRAIN. The only way to prevent this from happening is to keep making the phone calls, and keep writing the letters. If *WE* don't do it, who the HELL will? The holiday is OVER. I wish everyone a VERY Happy New Year, but now it is time to GET BACK TO WORK. Either you want to be able to freely exercise the rights that *SHOULD* already be protected under the Second Amendment, or you don't. IF you *DO*, then you need to get involved in this fight. If you are not sure how, join the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, or the ANJRPC. Go with us to Trenton and meet with your representatives. Let them know how you feel about having your rights trampled upon. DAMNIT, NOW IS THE TIME!!! There has never been a better time, and there is unlikely to be one again in the near future. Tomorrow, the NJ2AS Legislative Affairs Committee Chair, Bob Barush and I will be going to the Statehouse to meet with two Senators, an Assemblywoman, and the Chief of Staff of the President of the Senate. All we did was *ASK*! We already met with Senator Steve Sweeney before the holidays and have been invited back to help develop changes to the current statutes. But doors that have been opened can easily be shut if we don't have the political will to keep applying the pressure. So I am ASKING you. DO NOT SIT BACK and wait. Please do whatever you CAN to move our mutual agenda forward. The officers and board of the NJ2AS and I are ALWAYS open to your suggestions. PLEASE if you have connections with any of your representatives (ESPECIALLY if they are on the Law & Public Safety Committees) let us know. Perhaps you can help by making an introduction. And it doesn't hurt when constituents of a district show up with us when we go to Trenton. I realize you all work, but if you can wrangle a day off, please think about it. It *WILL help. I don't mean to be preaching here, but you *ALL* saw what happened when people got involved in the Brian Aitken story. Don't let ANYONE fool you - *THEY* made that commutation happen. It didn't fall like "manna" from heaven. Well, we can make the right to carry happen *TOO*. But you have to get involved and PUSH for it. If you read this far, hey thanks - what else can I say.

Because you have written to me onthe subject of concealed carry – or other firearms freedoms in New Jersey – I am taking the liberty of sending you (as text) my most recent letter to the Chairman of the Assembly Law and Public Safety Commission. As you may know, NJ is presently being sued to overturn its patently unconstitutional prohibition on carrying firearms. Although the matter is before the Courts, I hope to persuade the Legislature to do its constitutional duty without being scolded – at great expense – by a federal court. Please consider the following, and favor me with any thoughts you have on the subject. (And, of course, feel free to add you sentiments to mine by contacting the Chairman) Michael Patrick Carroll Assemblyman, LD 25 NJ ************************************** Hon. Gordon M. Johnson 545 Cedar Lane Teaneck, New Jersey 07666 Re: A-1384, inter alia Dear Chairman Johnson: Previously, I wrote to The Chairman about the desirability of a comprehensive review of New Jersey firearms statutes. I further understand that many folks in the pro-freedom community have reached out to The Chairman, urging the same course of action. I write again in the hopes that we, as a Legislature, can get right with the Constitution before the Federal Courts compel us to do so. As The Chairman knows, in the Heller case, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that individual spossess a constitutional right to possess and carry firearms, for (among other reasons) defense of themselves, of others, and of the State. In McDonald, the Court made it clear – to the extent any dispute existed – that this constitutional provision applies to state governments as well. For many years, New Jersey stood, a lonely outlier, denying its citizens the basic freedoms enjoyed virtually everywhere else in the nation. Back then, the State at least enjoyed the presumption that its actions were not of constitutional magnitude. It enjoys that polite fiction no more. Now, New Jersey stands revealed – to the extent any dispute ever existed – as being among the very few states denying its people one of their fundamental constitutional rights. Obviously, we, as legislators, sworn to uphold the Constitution, should be personally offended when our laws so egregiously violate one of its fundamental provisions. When – perhaps through misplaced passion – we act in a manner which denies our fellow citizens their basic constitutional rights, we should correct that mistake with all deliberate speed. In many cases decided since Heller, state-imposed restrictions upon basic freedoms have been tested, but nowhere are the restrictions more draconian than here in New Jersey (save, perhaps, Maryland). That looks as if it’s about to change. A lawsuit has been filed against New Jersey challenging its virtually absolute prohibition on the Second Amendment right to “bear arms” for personal self defense. Although it is always a capital mistake to predict the course of litigation, if the Federal District Court faithfully applies Heller and McDonald, New Jersey’s outright ban on carrying firearms for self defense will meet an expeditious, and well-deserved, end. Since this law was always poor policy – that the people of New Jersey are somehow untrustworthy, and certainly less trustworthy than the residents of 45-some-odd other states, was always, at best, a profoundly nonsensical proposition – its imminent demise represents grounds for rejoicing. But it will also necessitate legislative action, sooner rather than later. Faced with the seemingly inevitable invalidation of our clearly unconstitutional law, the Legislature faces a choice: obey the Constitution voluntarily or have a federal court compel us to do so. In the latter case, this will not be an inexpensive proposition; when a court determines that a state law violates basic constitutional rights, it possesses the authority – almost the obligation – to award counsel fees to the prevailing party. At a time when every last penny of taxpayer resources is precious (to the extent that there is ever a time at which they are not), paying many hundreds of thousands of dollars (to err on the side of a very conservative number) in legal fees to defend the indefensible strikes me as a profoundly misguided. Put simply, time is not on the side of those who oppose recognition of our citizens’ constitutional rights. Every minute we delay, keeping unconstitutional statutes upon our books, the meter keeps ticking, running up legal fees the taxpayers will be compelled to bear. While the Administration may labor under an obligation to defend the Legislature’s handiwork – however foolish – we do not labor under an obligation to persist in our error. While, likely, not a few of our colleagues will object to complying with the Constitution, we will either do it ourselves or be forced to ignominiously admit that, even though we knew what the Constitution required, we refused to comply. That those sworn to uphold the Constitution would revel in opposing its mandates, and passionately defend denying its basic protections to New Jersey citizens, is truly disturbing I respectfully request, then, that The Chairman promptly schedule the above for a hearing, such that New Jersey can begin the process of complying with basic constitutional commands. Respectfully submitted, Michael Patrick Carroll

Paul Mulshine will be the featured speaker at the January 12, 2010 meeting of the New Jersey Second Amendment Society to be held at Gun for Hire's north Jersey location at 75 Rutgers Street in Belleville, NJ. Directions and parking instructions can be found at http://www.gunforhire.com. You should car pool if possible. I expect this meeting to be very well attended. Paul has graciously agreed to take over for Steve Lonegan who ran into a scheduling conflict. Steve has agreed to speak at a future NJ2AS meeting. In addition to having both Anthony Colandro and Paul Mulshine, we will also be running the Florida CCW Licensing Program. For full information, please check out our website at http://www.nj2as.com. The meeting and Florida CCW program both start at 7:30. Don't miss this opportunity to obtain your Florida Carry Permit and an opportunity to hear two EXCEPTIONAL speakers.

That may be true. It may be all we can get with the current legislature. Let's not discount the fact that the President of the Senate was willing to meet with the NJ2AS and discuss how bad the current laws are. The fact that he is willing to look in to it and sponsor legislation to improve the situation is a good thing. Remember, we are attacking these laws at every possible level, Judicial, Executive, AND Legislative. These are all positive moves. Our job right now is to keep up the momentum. It is more than we had yesterday, and we haven't stopped pushing for more. Let's stay positive and motivated. There is MORE to come.

The President and Legislative Affairs Chair of the NJ2AS recently met with Senator Steve Sweeney.This article By Matt Friedman/Statehouse Bureau appeared on NJ.com today: "Sweeney also said he would seek to revise the state’s law on carrying handguns in the wake of the case of Brian Aitken, whose seven-year prison sentence was commuted to just four months of time served this week by Gov. Chris Christie. He was released Tuesday. Aitken had handguns he purchased in Colorado locked and unloaded in his car’s trunk, but was arrested in January 2009 after his mother, concerned for his well-being, called the police. They searched his car and arrested him upon finding the guns because he did not have a carry permit. Sweeney said the prosecutor had discretion and should have decided not to prosecute Aitken. “Obviously we have to make a correction to the law and I’m going to work with Sen. (Jeff) Van Drew to craft a solution,” said Sweeney. “That was truly a tragic case where a young man, trying to do the right thing… We’ll clarify the area that put this young man in jail. I spoke to Jeff Van Drew about this recently… about crafting language based on what happened to spell it out." Click for full article