Published: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 12:00 PM Updated: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 2:19 PM
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/12/nj_man_goes_from_inmate_to_nra.html
TRENTON — No one told Brian Aitken why he was being removed from his prison tier on Monday night after dinner. He was transferred to the hospital wing and placed in a single cell by himself.It wasn’t until the next morning that he found out Gov. Chris Christie had commuted his prison sentence for weapons charges. He was released from the Mid-State Correctional Facility Annex in Wrightstown after serving four months behind bars, far short of his full seven-year sentence.
"I’m home with my family now," Aitken said in a phone interview with New Jersey 101.5. "And it still hasn’t hit me."
Aitken, 27, became a cause celebre for gun advocates when he was arrested last year in Mount Laurel for possession of three handguns he legally purchased in Colorado but didn’t have a carry permit for in New Jersey.
Tuesday, the "Free Brian Aitken" Facebook page was overflowing with well-wishers. A radio host asked if he would write a book. And Aitken said he was looking forward to a "long-awaited date" with his fiance.
His release also drew national attention to Christie, who was widely praised by gun advocates.
"On behalf of the 4 million members of the National Rifle Association of America, I would like to thank Governor Christie for freeing Brian Aitken in time to spend the holiday with his family," Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement.
Christie has not detailed his decision, saying Tuesday, "I felt that justice required a commutation of his sentence."
Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris), an opponent of strict gun laws, had written to Christie urging Aitken’s release.
"The law is designed to protect the people against the possibility of harm," he said Tuesday. "How are the people benefited by throwing Brian Aitken into prison?"
Aitken had his handguns locked and unloaded in the trunk of his car, as required by law, but didn’t have a carry permit. When his mother became concerned for his well-being on Jan. 2, 2009, she called the police, who searched his car and found the handguns. He was charged with unlawful handgun possession — which has a three-year minimum sentence — as well as possession of hollow-point bullets and a large-capacity magazine.
New Jersey gun owners do not need a carry permit if they’re transporting their handgun in a vehicle while hunting or moving, among other select purposes. During Aitken’s trial the judge rejected his lawyer’s argument that he was moving when the guns were found in his trunk, saying there wasn’t enough evidence of that. Aitken is still pushing an appeal to overturn his conviction.
During Aitken’s trial the judge rejected his lawyer’s argument that he was moving when the guns were found in his trunk, saying there wasn’t enough evidence of that. Aitken is still pushing an appeal to overturn his conviction.
A spokesman for the Burlington County prosecutor’s office, which prosecuted Aitken, declined comment.
Christie did not say whether New Jersey’s gun laws are too strict. But some are hoping to push through changes.
"There’s a big problem with New Jersey gun laws," said Frank Fiamingo of Manahawkin, president of the New Jersey Second Amendment Society. "It’s next to impossible to get a carry permit."
Bryan Miller, project director for the anti-gun violence group Ceasefire NJ, said only a "tiny majority" of people actually want to loosen the state’s gun laws. He hopes others don’t see the governor’s decision on Aitken as a precendent for "a get-out-of-jail free card for breaking our gun laws."
A Christie spokesman said the governor had no plans to speak directly to Aitken, but Aitken had a message for the governor.
"Gov. Christie, thank you," he said on New Jersey 101.5. "Thank you for making my family’s Christmas wish come true."
Even though he’s grateful to the governor, Aitken said he won’t be hanging around.
"I will be getting out of New Jersey today," he said. "I will be spending the night outside of New Jersey. I’m very excited about that."
Staff writer Ginger Gibson contributed to this
No comments:
Post a Comment