wooly bugger

I need to figure out whether or not he can CC before I send out my op ed. If I can't confirm, better to play it safe. At least the undersheriff/sheriff part must be public, no? Where's our LEO members when we need them? (minutes away...j/k)

I want to send this out to Star Ledger and a few others while the iron is still hot. I'm sleepy, blurry eyed, and I need more sets of eyes on this. Please mercilessly critique and fact check. If this goes out, a lot more people are going to read this, so I need brutal feedback. If anyone wants to send this out under their name, be my guest. My neighbors will hate me when (if) they read this. And Cryan will put a hit on me. In the Wake of Newtown, it’s Business as Usual for the NJ Legislature When Governor Christie appointed his SAFE Committee to explore multifactorial approaches to violence prevention, I was hopeful that partisan politics might momentarily give way to adult discussion of real solutions. At the committee’s public hearings this happened, as ordinary people from across the political, ethnic, and socioeconomic spectrum had frank discussions and found common ground on the root causes of violence and on possible solutions. Unfortunately, our legislators are no ordinary people, as I learned at last Wednesday’s Law & Public Safety Committee’s public hearing, where an unprecedented 23 bills were rushed through in one session. The chamber was packed, with people overflowing into the courtyard. They need not have come, as Assemblyman Charles Mainor, the chair of the committee, made clear. In a curious reversal of normal procedure, he proposed that a vote on the bills be taken first, followed by public testimony on what was essentially a fait accompli. Huh? A pit grew in my stomach as I witnessed one bizarre episode after another. There was Assemblyman Joseph Cryan shouting down a Catholic priest who had the temerity to criticize the government’s efforts at preventing urban violence, ending his tirade with an incoherent criticism of the ash smeared on the priest’s forehead. Then there was Assemblyman Mainor—a Jersey City Police detective—asserting that it takes 20 to 30 seconds to switch out a pistol magazine. (In fact, a beginner can do it in about 3.) The room broke out into laughter. Even one of the state troopers had to stifle a giggle. At least two other members of the committee are licensed to carry concealed firearms (why?) but neither had any comment on the matter. The public speakers often took on the role of patient teachers; for example teaching the committee the process by which a firearm ID is obtained (submit fingerprints, obtain character references, undergo FBI background check, submit to at least one in-person interview with the police chief, follow up progress on application for anywhere from 30 days to one year, depending on the police department,) the instant background check and proof of identity required at the point of sale of a firearm, and the laws under which a firearm ID card is confiscated if a holder is found ineligible to possess a firearm. At the end of that painstaking lecture, there seemed to be genuine confusion within the committee as to the public safety rationale behind A3772 (hat tip to Assemblymen Eustace, Wagner, and Vainieri Huttle,) which would require every firearm ID card holder to reapply for his card within two years of passage and to repeat the ordeal every five years thereafter. What wasn't confusing was that this bill would bring an already tenuous system to its knees, leading to a de facto gun ban, which may have been the whole point. At the end of the exhausting day, I had heard seven hours of technical critique and no explanation, from either supporters in the audience or from sponsors on the committee, of how any of this was going to make us any safer. Every bill was passed on by the committee for a full Assembly vote. I was flabbergasted. A cynical veteran pulled me aside and explained the game. The Democratic majority just needed to flood Christie with a lot of gun control bills, to force him to choose between signing them (and losing his chances in a 2016 presidential run) or vetoing them (and risking his November gubernatorial reelection prospects.) This had nothing to do with us. It put Macchiavelli to shame. Shame on the committee, shame on the Assembly, and shame on all of us who put them there. We brought these thugs on ourselves, but our children deserve better.

Exactly, and that's why I'm begrudgingly giving him a little respect. Bootie freak or not.

Wow, I truly think he's progressively freaking out. He's incrementally updating his auto reply, becoming increasingly pleading. Here's what I got, a few minutes after emailing him. "at the meeting the crowd began to disrespect me and at that time I stopped paying attention" Is he serious? Did he just admit to not paying attention at his own meeting? I'm really having trouble hating him. He's so desperately out of his league. And can't write standard English. I have read your email and I thank you for contacting me. Let me start by saying I don't want to hurt anyone, and I do understand the passion that many citizens have towards this issue. I would be the first to admit that I don't look at gun ownership as you do, and it is important that I listen to you. I did try, but at the meeting the crowd began to disrespect me and at that time I stopped paying attention. By responding that way, I may have missed the testimony that would have allowed me to see things differently. I want you to understand that I too am very passionate with my stand on guns, and I continue to reflect on the babies we lost in Connecticut. Since that incident, I tend to look one way, and I shouldn't. So I'm asking you to please give me a call and allow me to listen to your concerns and I can then explain my mind. All I ask is if we see that we can't agree, please let us end the conversation by agreeing not to agree. I'm asking you call my office, if I'm not there please leave your number and I'll return your call. 201-536-7851 Respectfully, Asm. Charles Mainor

I hate to give the guy any credit, but it seems like he's expanding on his robo-replies and is actually listening. Which is more than I can say for anyone else on that committee. I don't know what his motive is, but would it be crazy to sit down and talk to him? He's kind of dumb, but he doesn't seem evil, like Cryan.

Oh how I wished we'd had this information before the hearing. Imagine the impact, while discussing the terrorist watch list, of someone saying that, if today's watch list had existed earlier, Cryan himself would have been on it for his IRA support.

What is this, a cheap Irish mob story? I'm actually scared of this guy. Physically scared. Mainor seems like a dumb, affable frat boy, but this guy is a real thug. This makes me think we really need to do this through an organization, not as individuals. I keep thinking back to the scene in Gran Torino, where Clint Eastwood reaches into his coat as if going for a gun in order to push the other guy into shooting him. Anyone want to do the political equivalent of reaching into your coat and see how Cryan reacts?

Here's a key quote: Curvin was named to evaluate Karen Golding, a former girlfriend of the lawmaker, who was arrested on stalking charges after she has tipped a newspaper reporter about financial discrepancies in a non-profit fund controlled by Joseph Cryan. I'd love to hear more about those "discrepancies." Maybe we can track down Ms. Golding and buy her a few drinks.

The idea of a super-PAC has been discussed elsewhere, and I think we need to find out who's vulnerable. Mainor killed in both the primaries and election, so I think he's untouchable. However, look at Cryan. Killed his Republican opponent, but close primary. I doubt his competitor would be much better, but it would send a very strong message if we could unseat him, and his opponent would be on notice. Check out the ballotpedia on him. http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Joseph_Cryan His district is 33% Hispanic, and both primary opponents have Spanish names (I don't mean to jump to conclusions. Just trying to generate ideas here.) Could a few thousand dollars in Spanish language ads and door to door knocking tip the balance???

I'm preparing an editorial on the (un)intended consequences of the FID bill. Does anyone know: 1) The number of gun owners in NJ? I've heard 1 million, but don't have a source. 2) The number of yearly FID applications across the state.

Then what do you have do for the superior court Judge? I assumed it was like NYC. I doubt Li'l Wayne or some Hollywood star can do much for a judge. All they've got is money.

Booker slickly avoided taking an anti-gun stance in a recent editorial. I can only take this as a sign that he wants to be seen as a moderate at the national level, rather than committing suicide a la Cuomo. This can't be terrible for us. Which is NJ is awesome.

None of the bills address "assault weapons." I would pick an issue addressed in one of the bills and stick with that.

Dear Governor Christie, The hearing yesterday, in which 23 gun control bills were ramrodded through, was an embarrassment. Assemblyman Mainor was in way over his head and shamed the committee with his ignorance of basic technical aspects regulated by these bills. At one point, even the state police were openly laughing. I will ask you to seriously consider vetoing these bills if they come to your desk. No one was able to defend them in the hearing, and you can be sure that no one will defend them at the national level. There will be many unintended consequences and numerous court challenges. I don't see how that kind of attention can help you in the future. Sincerely,

Here's what I posted to a couple of non-NJ forums. Please get the word out to your out of state friends. As you saw in a previous post, yesterday, we saw a perversion of justice as 23 anti-gun laws got rammed through committee, despite overwhelming opposition. These, and 20 others, are likely to sail through the Assembly and the Senate. Our only hope is a veto by Christie. He'll be a front runner for a 2016 Republican presidential bid, and he needs to know that his actions on these bills will be carefully watched across the country and will be remembered come 2016. Please send him a polite letter to show him your conditional support and encourage anyone you know to do so as well. http://www.state.nj.us/governor/contact/

Mighty big of him. Is there anything we can say to him that won't change his mind on the issues but that might make him think twice about railroading through the next wave of bills? I can't think of a carrot we can dangle. If anyone can find value in this meeting, I'd like to attend.

Theoretical questions 1) how much does it cost to buy a legislator? Looking at Mainor's funding, he was his biggest donor, followed by NJEA ($2500), and then various individuals ($500.) That's not so much compared with the price tag for a federal legislator 2) how much does it cost to buy a CCW? That's just pure curiosity. I can't afford it, and even if I could, I wouldn't play that game. Just wondering how much a police chief costs. Why can't they just be transparent and post a price list?

I have been cross-posting to newjerseyhunter.com I know it's bad etiquette to boost another site, but they are having an equally intense discussion over there. We need to join forces.

For anyone who is serious, maybe a quick letter to the editor of the local paper would be in order.

That (and the awesome response) needs to go on youtube as part of a montage on our struggle. Guaranteed to go viral.

They can also use your cell phone as a microphone even when it's off! This came to light during an organized crime investigation

Can any LEO in Hudson anonymously confirm this? You can PM me, and I'll post the answer without identifying you.

Is Cryan's claim that he used a .50 Barrett true?

Only 100? Less than I would have thought. I assume they have to be from within your district? If not, you've got me. If so, I can help you find people. We're not going to win this on guns, because let's face it, most people in Hudson County couldn't care less.. We need to do serious research to find other areas where they're weak. Based on what I've seen, Mainor may be a sitting duck.

Anyone who voted to release these bill from committee.