An insignificant politically-unconnected prole like Meckler is caught unknowingly not following a tyrannical and draconian rule and the book is thrown at him. There is no seeking to understand the situation or determination of intent. The “law” is simply the “law.”
But if an “Inner Party” member disregards the “law” then the book is not thrown at them, the system is held in check and an “investigation” to look into the situation is undertaken. Now it is time to walk on egg shells.
Inner party members are just “more equal” that us Proles.
This is a perfect example of how government “fairness” works. When further attempts are made on the 2nd Amendment, Obama-Care gets fully implemented along with its “death panels” and taxes like the VAT and Carbon Tax are forced upon the so-called “middle class” keep this story in the back of your mind. The meaning of “fairness” can take many forms.
MILLER: Two systems of justice
David Gregory walks free while Iraq vet was jailed
David Gregory holding a 30-round magazine at NBC’s Washington bureau (NBC/Meet the Press)
It’s been more than a week since police in Washington, D.C., opened an investigation into NBC’s David Gregory’s possession of a “high-capacity magazine” that’s prohibited in the District on on national TV. Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier’s spokesman refused Monday to respond to whether Mr. Gregory had even been interviewed yet. This is a rather curious departure for a city that has been ruthless in enforcing this particular firearms statute against law-abiding citizens who made an honest mistake.
In July, The Washington Times highlighted the plight of former Army Spc. Adam Meckler, who was arrested and jailed for having a few long-forgotten rounds of ordinary ammunition — but no gun — in his backpack in Washington. Mr. Meckler, a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, says he had no idea it was illegal to possess unregistered ammunition in the city. He violated the same section of D.C. law as Mr. Gregory allegedly did, and both offenses carry the same maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and a year in jail.
Mr. Meckler was charged with the crime and was forced to accept a plea deal to avoid the cost and time of a protracted legal fight. The indefensible nature of Mr. Meckler’s case led directly to a new law passed by the D.C. Council in December that allows prosecutors to file civil instead of criminal charges, but only if the accused was unaware of the city’s laws.
That exemption probably wouldn’t apply to Mr. Gregory, who held up a 30-round rifle magazine on his show on Dec. 23 to make his point about the need to ban them. NBC asked the police in advance for permission to bring the contraband into Washington for the interview with National Rifle Association’s Wayne LaPierre, but it was not granted.
“I unknowingly broke the law,” Mr. Meckler told The Washington Times. “Mr. Gregory knowingly broke the law. While both are seemingly harmless, both acts were deemed illegal under the District’s obscure firearms laws.” Mr. Meckler said he would never have intentionally left the rounds in his bag.
The former Army medic is still upset about being left with a criminal record and being enrolled on the police list of firearms-related criminals. “I think if you had to measure the criminality of the two instances, his should be interpreted as more severe. At the very least, he should be put on probation, pay a fine and be added to the District’s Gun Offender Registry, as I was ordered to do,” Mr. Meckler said.
The administration wasn’t concerned that it had invited a potential gun criminal to the White House Saturday for an exclusive interview with President Obama. The president used this platform to call for enactment of a new ban within a year on what he called “assault rifles” and “high-capacity clips.”
The District came up with its overly restrictive laws in response to the Supreme Court overturning the capital city’s 30-year gun ban. The statutes shouldn’t apply just to regular people but to the rich and powerful as well. The District should either repeal its over-the-top restrictions or send a squad car to take David Gregory into custody.
Read the whole story of Spc. Meckler’s case here: MILLER: D.C. arrests vet for unregistered ammunition
Emily Miller is a senior editor for the Opinion pages at The Washington Times.
Original story HERE.
Eddie says:
Stupidity knows no bounds. I’m sure glad I don’t live in D.C What a load of crap.
Too many laws…everyone is now a criminal…but don’t worry, if you’re rich and connected, you won’t be prosecuted.
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4th January 2013 at 11:24 am
ThePessimisticChemist says:
The only criminals here are the ones who pass such asinine laws.
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4th January 2013 at 11:34 am
Outtahere says:
Just goes to prove that when it comes to politics, it’s not who you know, but who you blow!
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4th January 2013 at 12:35 pm
AWD says:
Great article. The proles can’t do anything that isn’t criminalized. The “party leaders” don’t have to worry about silly laws, they are above that. Corzine stole $1.5 billion and walks a free man. They do this so that they can come and arrest you anytime they wish, and with NDAA, they don’t really need a reason anymore.
The criminal lawyers/politicians created 30,000 new laws in 2012. Creating new laws provides job security for all the bureaucratic parasites in Washington.
Criminalization by Bureaucrat: Scores of federal departments and agencies have created so many criminal offenses that the Congressional Research Service itself admitted that it was unable to even count all of the offenses. The service’s best estimate? “Tens of thousands.” In short, Congress’s own experts do not have a clear understanding of the size and scope of federal criminalization.
Deeply Flawed Criminal Offenses: A recent Heritage-NACDL joint study reported that three out of every five new non-violent offenses have inadequate criminal-intent requirements. This means that they fail to protect from unjust criminal punishment Americans who engaged in conduct that they did not know was illegal or otherwise wrongful.
Breakneck Pace Continues: Despite existing overcriminalization, Congress continues to criminalize at an average rate of one new crime for every week of every year (including when its Members are not in session). All inherently wrongful conduct has been criminalized several times over. There are now more than 5000 Federal criminal offenses.
http://www.heritage.org/research/factsheets/2011/04/overcriminalization-an-explosion-of-federal-criminal-law
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4th January 2013 at 1:32 pm
AWD says:
First, kill all the lawyers….
Before they imprison or kill you.
Overcriminalization and the Constitution
Although the Constitution’s great structural principles of federalism and separation of powers are designed to guard against the abuse of governmental power and secure individual liberty, Congress routinely flouts these constitutional safeguards by enacting vague, overly broad, and other improper and unconstitutional criminal laws. Thomas Jefferson warned that “concentrating” or combining the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government “in the same hands is precisely the definition of despotic government.” Yet overcriminalization invites and effectively requires prosecutors, judges, and even unelected federal bureaucrats to engage in lawmaking to determine the scope and severity of criminal punishment. In order to preserve the rights of innocent Americans, the unbridled and unprincipled growth of federal criminal statutes and regulations must be contained.
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4th January 2013 at 1:34 pm
Wyoming Mike says:
We’ve all heard that “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” The original phrase was “ignorance of the law, which any reasonable man should know, is no excuse.” Not quite the same thing.
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4th January 2013 at 1:35 pm
AWD says:
Comrades,
The Commission for Regulatory Justice, under the Department of Progressive Legislation, has issued a congratulatory telegram to the Party’s Central Committee, commending it on the achievement of nearly 30,000 new laws throughout the Union of Socialist States of America for the Year 2012. This great achievement has even been recognized in the propaganda organs of the Capitalists, who stand in awe of this profound example of Progress for the people of America:
New laws on New Year’s Day, from gay marriage to ‘Caylee’s Law’
The Masses are in need of regulation, and with the unanimous election of Comrade President Barack Barackovich Obama, the Party has been able to harness the ardent desires of the People for greater implementation of Socialist doctrine. In the first year of his Chairmanship, the USSA enacted 40,697 laws, not counting the thousands of helpful and necessary regulations through the various administrative organs of the State.
While counter-revolutionary elements may try to question the Party’s implementation of so many laws, he can say with certainty that every one of these laws is important for the welfare of the People.
Those without proper education are ignorant of the benefits of freedom through regulation.
Regulation and laws free the People from worrying about making bad decisions that have consequences. By following the regulations set forth by the Party, workers and peasants of America will not have to be concerned about making decisions that may lead to mistakes that will be inconvenient or prevent them from receiving their fair share of social benefits.
Regulation means safety and security, and security is the only real kind of prosperity that is worth having. The State guarantees prosperity for all its citizens through equitable distribution of the People’s wealth, government by the laws set forth by the governmental organs of the State.
Therefore, with so many new laws, 2013 will be a year of great prosperity! The Party is so confident in this new prosperity plan that Comrade President Barack Barackovich has returned to his Dacha in Hawaii for the second time in a month, signaling his confidence that the State is moving forward towards Socialism without any impediment or opposition.
Long live the Socialist Revolution!
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4th January 2013 at 1:37 pm
AWD says:
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4th January 2013 at 1:38 pm
IndenturedServant says:
Nice article harryp, thanks for sharing.
Seriously, did anyone expect anything less?
I_S
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4th January 2013 at 1:39 pm
Happy Camper says:
The law is the law!
Sometimes, Winston. Sometimes the law is the law. Sometimes the law is not the law. Sometimes the law is both the law and not the law at once. You must try harder. It is not easy to become sane.
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4th January 2013 at 1:50 pm
Hollow man says:
Obamacare will be used to control behavior. Ride a dirt bike ? A waiver with a 10,000 dollar fee per quarter should do it. Own a gun same for you. After all it is you choosing to take the risk. Why should others be made to pay for your decisions. This country is gong in a direction that will destroy all those who love liberty, fairness and what is right.
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4th January 2013 at 1:59 pm
Didius Julianus says:
Comrade AWD,
Thank you for reminding us of the great progress of the USSA. After so many years of progress, my fine education from various state institutions assisted my understanding of the privileges and responsibilities of the workers. Therefore, I received dispensation, after much completion of necessary forms and providing of information, to move to Oceania to understand the conditions of the workers on this side of the world. It has been an education. One most of our comrades in the USSA, yourself excluded of course, can not seem to comprehend or care not to learn. Therefore, as you noted, “Regulation and laws free the People from worrying about making bad decisions that have consequences” and “Regulation means safety and security, and security is the only real kind of prosperity that is worth having.”
When you apply for your dispensation to travel to Oceania, please let me know.
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4th January 2013 at 2:30 pm
Ron says:
Ive seen people with money get away with things that the common person would go to prison over.
Watching the OJ bronco chase is an good example of how people are treated differently.
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4th January 2013 at 2:50 pm
Bill Gates says:
It is good to be rich!
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4th January 2013 at 5:25 pm