Just remember Kyle Rittenhaus and how he got a free pass from the judge to carry out extra judicial murder and is now a poster child of MAGA. I wasn’t aware that their second amendment is used to silence my first amendment rights.
The legality or illegality of Pretti’s possession of a hand gun — and clearly it was legal, in the eyes of this former Asst DA in Manhattan — is irrelevant to the matter at hand, i.e., whether the shooting of Mr. Pretti was justified — and clearly it was not, again in the eyes of this former Asst DA in Manhattan. If I were trying the case against the shooters — and mind you, I would indict every ICE/BP agent involved in a conspiracy to kill Pretti — I would ask the judge to exclude evidence of the handgun Pretti carried, since nobody has or could claim that the handgun was relevant to the shooting. I admit I would likely lose that argument, but I would attempt to make it. In short, the 2A rights Mr. Pretti was exercising are NOT relevant to his murder and the expected charges against the shooter et al.
That’s true. I agree with your point. However, it is relevant to the numerous claims Trump officials have made about Alex Pretti carrying that gun as part of their attempt to justify the shooting. That’s more what this piece is focused on.
I totally understand the pseudo argument being made: to wit, that Pretti was carrying the gun to slaughter ICE/BP agents. However, as he did NONE OF THAT, and never drew his gun, the argument is specious. Think of this: he also kicked at a tail light of an Agent car a week or two before he was murdered. If Pretti were the defendant in a later case, would the prior bad act — the kicking of the tail light — be admissible against him? As a former Asst DA in Manhattan and former writer/producer of Law & Order, I assure you the prior bad act would NOT be admissible. By admittedly imperfect analogy, the alleged ‘bad act’ of carrying a gun (LEGALLY!) is logically irrelevant to the shooting by the Agents. Why? Because he never pulled the gun, aimed the gun, displayed the gun, brandished the gun. So how could it be relevant to the fact that the NAZI THUGS shot him? It is not. Hence, inadmissible, I would argue, as irrelevant.
In a disgusting display of arrogance and lawlessness Cheeto declared that the only thing now that can stop him is his own morality!!( https://bit.ly/4r5RS15)
“A lot of times, you can’t convince a voter,” he said at another time. “You have to just do what’s right. And then a lot of the things I did were not really politically popular. They turned out to be when it worked out so well.”
Let that sink in for a moment This demented depraved malignant narcissist just said the quiet dictator speak out loud No laws constrain him or his regime No domestic or international norms can check his decision making No advisors or country’s opinions will make any difference as to what he will do
Yes How he views the world and his own immoral depravity will decide how he will proceed
This is the culmination of years of a psychotic mind’s development that is now so demented that it leverages the free domestic and world order Time to protest like never before and call your Congress people to obstruct him in every way possible It may not take a midterm election to get him impeached
When it comes to guns in America, I feel I need to share a little personal history to provide context for my comments. I am an old, white, heterosexual male. I grew up in a small rural town, where I participated in the male rite of passage, hunting. My home had the usual array of hunting guns; a 22 rifle, a 12 gauge shotgun, and a 30.06 rifle. I learned to used each safely. I soon figured out that I just enjoyed being in the woods, and didn’t need a gun for that. I have enjoyed the outdoors my entire life and have never owned a gun.
I have lived in a major US city for over 40 years. I have never felt any danger interacting with people of all colors, ethnicities, or sexual orientations. Except for those who carry guns in public places. I don’t understand those who are so fearful of their fellow man that they can only appear in public armed.
For decades, I have been hearing some gun folks claim they are arming to fight off an oppressive government, the “well-regulated militia” rationale. It’s taken me a while to figure out that we have different definitions of what an oppressive government is. I find murdering people in the streets and defaming them to justify their deaths, ignoring the rule of law, extorting foreign governments, using the federal government for personal retribution, etc. to be oppressive. I think a lot of the “well-regulated militia” bunch see electing a black president, enforcing equal rights for all, enforcing the separation of church and state, providing a social safety net for the most vulnerable, etc. as oppressive government. I fear that gun owners are going to side with the ICE agents.
Now that we have established what the Law and the Constitution say about this instance or any other instance in our recent past and foreseeable future, we can also establish that the current regime DOES NOT CARE about the Law or the Constitution if they even know what it says. Then take it from there. Maybe Gary can tell you what the Russian Constitution says about citizens rights and if they mattered when he or any other Putin opponent was arrested and thrown in jail or murdered.
Just remember Kyle Rittenhaus and how he got a free pass from the judge to carry out extra judicial murder and is now a poster child of MAGA. I wasn’t aware that their second amendment is used to silence my first amendment rights.
The legality or illegality of Pretti’s possession of a hand gun — and clearly it was legal, in the eyes of this former Asst DA in Manhattan — is irrelevant to the matter at hand, i.e., whether the shooting of Mr. Pretti was justified — and clearly it was not, again in the eyes of this former Asst DA in Manhattan. If I were trying the case against the shooters — and mind you, I would indict every ICE/BP agent involved in a conspiracy to kill Pretti — I would ask the judge to exclude evidence of the handgun Pretti carried, since nobody has or could claim that the handgun was relevant to the shooting. I admit I would likely lose that argument, but I would attempt to make it. In short, the 2A rights Mr. Pretti was exercising are NOT relevant to his murder and the expected charges against the shooter et al.
That’s true. I agree with your point. However, it is relevant to the numerous claims Trump officials have made about Alex Pretti carrying that gun as part of their attempt to justify the shooting. That’s more what this piece is focused on.
I totally understand the pseudo argument being made: to wit, that Pretti was carrying the gun to slaughter ICE/BP agents. However, as he did NONE OF THAT, and never drew his gun, the argument is specious. Think of this: he also kicked at a tail light of an Agent car a week or two before he was murdered. If Pretti were the defendant in a later case, would the prior bad act — the kicking of the tail light — be admissible against him? As a former Asst DA in Manhattan and former writer/producer of Law & Order, I assure you the prior bad act would NOT be admissible. By admittedly imperfect analogy, the alleged ‘bad act’ of carrying a gun (LEGALLY!) is logically irrelevant to the shooting by the Agents. Why? Because he never pulled the gun, aimed the gun, displayed the gun, brandished the gun. So how could it be relevant to the fact that the NAZI THUGS shot him? It is not. Hence, inadmissible, I would argue, as irrelevant.
There isn't a reality, where trump is concerned, there is only psychosis!
Classic Gutowski: well- researched and well stated facts; no drama; no agenda. Just a clear look at reality that’s useful to people.
Cheeto’s Morality Governs America And World
In a disgusting display of arrogance and lawlessness Cheeto declared that the only thing now that can stop him is his own morality!!( https://bit.ly/4r5RS15)
“A lot of times, you can’t convince a voter,” he said at another time. “You have to just do what’s right. And then a lot of the things I did were not really politically popular. They turned out to be when it worked out so well.”
Let that sink in for a moment This demented depraved malignant narcissist just said the quiet dictator speak out loud No laws constrain him or his regime No domestic or international norms can check his decision making No advisors or country’s opinions will make any difference as to what he will do
Yes How he views the world and his own immoral depravity will decide how he will proceed
This is the culmination of years of a psychotic mind’s development that is now so demented that it leverages the free domestic and world order Time to protest like never before and call your Congress people to obstruct him in every way possible It may not take a midterm election to get him impeached
When it comes to guns in America, I feel I need to share a little personal history to provide context for my comments. I am an old, white, heterosexual male. I grew up in a small rural town, where I participated in the male rite of passage, hunting. My home had the usual array of hunting guns; a 22 rifle, a 12 gauge shotgun, and a 30.06 rifle. I learned to used each safely. I soon figured out that I just enjoyed being in the woods, and didn’t need a gun for that. I have enjoyed the outdoors my entire life and have never owned a gun.
I have lived in a major US city for over 40 years. I have never felt any danger interacting with people of all colors, ethnicities, or sexual orientations. Except for those who carry guns in public places. I don’t understand those who are so fearful of their fellow man that they can only appear in public armed.
For decades, I have been hearing some gun folks claim they are arming to fight off an oppressive government, the “well-regulated militia” rationale. It’s taken me a while to figure out that we have different definitions of what an oppressive government is. I find murdering people in the streets and defaming them to justify their deaths, ignoring the rule of law, extorting foreign governments, using the federal government for personal retribution, etc. to be oppressive. I think a lot of the “well-regulated militia” bunch see electing a black president, enforcing equal rights for all, enforcing the separation of church and state, providing a social safety net for the most vulnerable, etc. as oppressive government. I fear that gun owners are going to side with the ICE agents.
Now that we have established what the Law and the Constitution say about this instance or any other instance in our recent past and foreseeable future, we can also establish that the current regime DOES NOT CARE about the Law or the Constitution if they even know what it says. Then take it from there. Maybe Gary can tell you what the Russian Constitution says about citizens rights and if they mattered when he or any other Putin opponent was arrested and thrown in jail or murdered.