Mainstream Media Rallying Behind Brian Aitken
Apparently few mainstream media outlets are taking aim at 27-year-old Brian Aitken, who as we previously noted was sentenced in August to seven years in prison for transporting firearms he had legally owned. Even ABC News offered the headline, “‘Perfect Storm of Injustice’? NJ Man Serving 7 Years for Guns He Legally Owned.”
The truth is that while the MSM continues to show an anti-gun lean, it is hard to argue that Aitken deserves seven years in jail.
Consider that Lil’ Wayne, the thug rapper, was arrested in New York City with drugs and a gun on a tour bus, and was only sentenced to a year in jail. And what about singer David Crosby who was caught with an illegal gun and yet only received probation? What those examples took place across the Hudson River in New York, it just shows that unreasonable gun laws – such as those in New Jersey – can actually ensure that when guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns, simply because men like Aitken become outlaws merely for having the guns.
Reason: Lil Wayne a Gun Control Victim
In an interesting piece that attempts to unravel and explain the draconian gun laws of New York City, writer Armin Rosen offers the argument that “Lil Wayne, Noted Rapper and Gun Control Victim,” is now out of prison.
Rosen argues:
“Lil Wayne went to jail because New York has basically criminalized any access to an existing or even hypothetical illegal handgun, which, in New York, covers pretty much all handguns.” Read more
New York Post Tells of Double Standard in How City Addresses Guns
One of our big complaints about some big city gun laws is that there is typically a double standard. This is most certainly the case in New York City, where the rich and famous don’t have to go through the normal procedures to obtain a gun permit. When the law is broken however, is when the differences are most notable.
The rich and famous, often with rich and famous lawyers, get a slap on the wrist whilst others face serious penalties for breaking the city’s draconian gun laws. The New York Post noted in a story this past weekend that “half of the gun scofflaws packing heat illegally in the city wriggle out of jail sentences or do minimal time.”
The paper notes that a Florida man, with no criminal record, is facing two years in jail for illegally possessing a 9mm pistol during a traffic stop. Yet, many celebrities – those with past criminal records – escape with far lighter sentences. Consider the case of thug rapper Lil’ Wayne, who was arrested with a .40 caliber pistol following multiple drug arrests, received merely a year in prison.
Lil Wayne Faces Little Time
Once again we’re scratching our heads, asking how it can be that many law abiding citizens are denied their constitutional right, and a convicted criminal is facing a second strike that will mean just three years probation! Currently “rapper” Lil Wyane is serving time in New York City’s Rikers Island on a gun charge, and has now pleaded guilty to a similar charge – via a live video feed – in Yuma County Arizona. Entertainment Weekly reports:
“On January 22, 2008 authorities stopped Wayne’s tour bus at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint almost 80 miles east of Yuma. They found cocaine, marijuana, Ecstasy, drug paraphernalia and a .40-caliber handgun registered to Wayne. He was charged with felony possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia. At the time Wayne pleaded not guilty to all the felony charges.”
The entertainment magazine goes on to call Wayne an “acclaimed rapper” noting that he faces of the three years of probation AFTER he serves his time? How is this possible we ask, because he was charged with numerous felony possessions of drugs? Worse still why is the media noting he is an “acclaimed” anything, artist or otherwise, instead of noting that he is a CONVICTED criminal?
Shooting at Fans, Even With Paintballs Doesn’t Sound Like a Good Career Move
What is with musicians and stupidity? Some might question (and many in the mainstream media have asked) what is with musicians and guns, but this isn’t just about guns. This is about using guns while being plain stupid. In England this past weekend the “singing trio N-Dubz” had their tour bus raided after two of the members fired paint pellets at the crowd. Metro.co.uk reported:
“When the cops searched the bus, witnesses claim that Dappy, 22, put up a fight before handing over his weapon. The paint firing began at around 8pm on Saturday and it is believed that Dappy and 23-year-old Fazer – whose real names are Dino Contostavlos and Richard Rawson – had bought five paint guns from town earlier that day.”
Could things have been worse? Consider that American rapper Lil’ Wayne is doing time for having a real gun on his tour bus. How long before some drugged out “performer” starts shooting up the crowd? Of course law-abiding gun owners will be left in the fallout. Maybe you shouldn’t need a license to own a gun, maybe you should need a license to perform music?
Arenas Admits He Should Be Punished
What a difference a week makes. While many have written about the NBA’s Gilbert Arenas and noted that there is a culture of “guns” in the world of sports, few have spoken out against Lil’ Wayne (who is finally behind bars where he belongs). What makes this different is that Arenas admits he was in the wrong for pulling a gun on a teammate and agrees that he should be punished.
We’re also expecting the anti-gun crowd to go nuts when they hear he has a collection of firearms that includes as many as 500 pieces, many from World War I. Arenas had said that he bought the collection from an older collector, and has most of it in storage.
Let’s hope that Arenas is punished accordingly, but let us also hope that those guns aren’t seized and destroyed. Those, like many athletes, should be viewed as American treasures.
One Law for The Rich and Famous?
Hoodlum rapper Lil’ Wayne (Dwayne Carter) is finally going to where he belongs… jail. What is upsetting about this story is not that the convicted rapper, who was arrested for having a machinegun on his tour bus, had his sentencing postponed twice, but that fans don’t think it is fair he’s going way.
From MTV.com, wrote one reader:
“Wow, that really sucks. I think that this is so stupid. … He is a good artist and donates a lot of money to charities. I hope he gets out early!!!”
And Vibe magazine offered this take:
“In the weeks leading up to his imprisonment, everyone from Drake to Baby to Young Jeezy went on the record to talk about how much they’re going to miss Lil Wayne while he’s locked up on Rikers Island for the next year (or the next eight months with good behavior, as some folks are already hoping).”
Clearly any regular gangsta from the streets wouldn’t get this level of love. Shameful to say the least.
MTV Asks Stupid Question Regarding Lil Wayne
MTV isn’t much about “the music” these days, but it certainly supports musicians whenever given the chance. The latest example is an article that ran this weekend with the headline: “Why is Lil Wayne’s Sentence so Severe?”
MTV is just another outlet that does the usual PSA’s saying “increasing the peace,” while still hyping up the lifestyles of so-called gangsta rappers and other celebrity thugs. So when Jayson Rodriguez writes that Lil Wayne was sentenced to a year for illegal firearms possession, yet points out that he could have faced more time, we’re left to wonder why MTV asks stupid questions. In fact the article says:
“Had the rapper not struck a deal with prosecutors, he could have been looking at a mandatory minimum of three and a half years in prison if he was found guilty by trial.”
The real question is whether the average citizen would have gotten such a deal, so maybe MTV I ask you, “why’d Lil Wayne get such a little sentence?
Military.com Weighs in on Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne is big news. This weekend Military.com weighed in on the matter, and asked whether the NRA should step in and offer support to the rapper, following his conviction on gun charges. The answer I would give would be “not unless Wayne is an NRA member in good standing, and can explain why he possessed a firearm illegally in New York City?” You shouldn’t do the crime if you can do the time, or pay the fine. Sorry Lil Wayne.
Rap Superstar Lil Wayne Pleads Guilty
One of the country’s top rap entertainer, Lil Wayne, shocked fans today by pleading guilty to illegal gun possession. The superstar faces up to a year in jail for an incident that occurred in 2007 after a concert. New York City police pulled over Lil Wayne’s tour bus shortly after it left the concert, saying they had seen and smelled marijuana smoke emanating from the door when it was parked. When police approached the rapper in his sleeping quarter, he tossed away a bag that contained a handgun. Read more
