Books. Bikes. Boomsticks.
“I only regret that I have but one face to palm for my country.”
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Like you and me, only better.
Robert De Niro, whose life is valuable enough to rate an NYC toter's permit (unlike ordinary folks like you, me, or a single mother of two waiting tables at an all-night diner in the Bronx,) is apparently a half-decent shot.
Not being "in the know" about rappers, I looked up 50 Cent on Wikipedia. This guy is literally a felon and served time in prison. Aren't felons currently prohibited from possession of firearms? Even the fleeting possession of a couple of range trips?
I guess Mr. De Niro has since overcame that nasty habit of closing his eyes when he pulled the trigger that he so frequently exhibited in Ronin. Good for him.
Justin makes an interesting point. As I observed, do you really think the aw shucks no big deal leniency would extend to YOU or ME in New York City if it were widely known that you went to the range despite being a convicted felon?
NY law is messed up. According to a friend of mine, who is well-versed in NY gun laws, a person holding an unrestricted NYC gun license (ie: full carry) can let someone else, even a convicted felon, shoot his gun. I doubt DeNiro will even get a slap on the wrist. However, should DeNiro GIVE a gun to Fitty Sense, they would both get locked up.
If DeNiro KNEW that Curtis Jackson was a felon (and given the fact that he spent a lot of time talking about it), then by simply handing Jackson a gun, DeNiro commited a federal crime.
As I noted over at Jeffs place though, there might be a technicality there, in that Jackson went into a diversion program so that he may not officially have a felony record.
I'm not sure if that is the case or not; I haven't seen an official statement from the state of New York as to Jacksons status as a felon or not.
Ted Kennedy and Mark Wahlberg fell through similar loopholes; which I wrote about on my blog when "Shooter" came out.
They would still be classified by the ATF as prohibited persons, but they may not show up as that in the NICS database.
Actually, based on the Kansas and Tennessee district court rulings, technically the ATF would have to get a judge to say they were prohibited persons in order to pursue a prosecution
Then they'd still have to prove De Niro knew Jackson was a prohibited person, which would be difficult considering that THEY didn't even know until the judge told him so.
Doncha just love the complexities of federal and state firearms laws.
Chris, if you look at the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_cent), the guy openly said that he would have voted for Bush if his felony convictions did not prevent him from voting. I don't claim to understand NY law, but I would think that if he can't even vote, he can't legally possess a firearm. Of course, as we all know, most rules that apply to us don't apply to celebrities in a practical sense.
Last I heard, they're were around 1400 carry permits in the City.. Of 8 and a half million.
They do seem to give them out like candy to the famous or politically connnected, but you'd be surprised at how many are owned by "nobodies" - although they make it hell to get one. One of the requirements is that you have to deal in a grand in cash.. EVERYDAY. And you better be able to prove it. I know somebody who got one, and what they pulled to try and deny him one was unbelievable.
Not being "in the know" about rappers, I looked up 50 Cent on Wikipedia. This guy is literally a felon and served time in prison. Aren't felons currently prohibited from possession of firearms? Even the fleeting possession of a couple of range trips?
ReplyDeleteI guess Mr. De Niro has since overcame that nasty habit of closing his eyes when he pulled the trigger that he so frequently exhibited in Ronin. Good for him.
ReplyDeleteHere's a man who would not take it anymore, a man who stood up against the scum... Comical, really.
ReplyDeleteJustin makes an interesting point. As I observed, do you really think the aw shucks no big deal leniency would extend to YOU or ME in New York City if it were widely known that you went to the range despite being a convicted felon?
ReplyDeleteNY law is messed up. According to a friend of mine, who is well-versed in NY gun laws, a person holding an unrestricted NYC gun license (ie: full carry) can let someone else, even a convicted felon, shoot his gun. I doubt DeNiro will even get a slap on the wrist. However, should DeNiro GIVE a gun to Fitty Sense, they would both get locked up.
ReplyDeleteOrange, your friend is incorrect.
ReplyDeleteIf DeNiro KNEW that Curtis Jackson was a felon (and given the fact that he spent a lot of time talking about it), then by simply handing Jackson a gun, DeNiro commited a federal crime.
As I noted over at Jeffs place though, there might be a technicality there, in that Jackson went into a diversion program so that he may not officially have a felony record.
I'm not sure if that is the case or not; I haven't seen an official statement from the state of New York as to Jacksons status as a felon or not.
Ted Kennedy and Mark Wahlberg fell through similar loopholes; which I wrote about on my blog when "Shooter" came out.
They would still be classified by the ATF as prohibited persons, but they may not show up as that in the NICS database.
Actually, based on the Kansas and Tennessee district court rulings, technically the ATF would have to get a judge to say they were prohibited persons in order to pursue a prosecution
Then they'd still have to prove De Niro knew Jackson was a prohibited person, which would be difficult considering that THEY didn't even know until the judge told him so.
Doncha just love the complexities of federal and state firearms laws.
Chris, if you look at the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_cent), the guy openly said that he would have voted for Bush if his felony convictions did not prevent him from voting. I don't claim to understand NY law, but I would think that if he can't even vote, he can't legally possess a firearm. Of course, as we all know, most rules that apply to us don't apply to celebrities in a practical sense.
ReplyDeleteLast I heard, they're were around 1400 carry permits in the City.. Of 8 and a half million.
ReplyDeleteThey do seem to give them out like candy to the famous or politically connnected, but you'd be surprised at how many are owned by "nobodies" - although they make it hell to get one. One of the requirements is that you have to deal in a grand in cash.. EVERYDAY. And you better be able to prove it. I know somebody who got one, and what they pulled to try and deny him one was unbelievable.