He’s home. Best of luck to you Brian, and I hope you enjoy your holidays back home with your family where you belong. It’s worth noting that ANJRPC is asking people to call Governor Christie and thank him. I agree this is very important. We need to be good at the positive as well as negative reinforcement. You can find contact info for Governor Christie here.
9 thoughts on “A Message from Brian Aitken”
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I sent the e mail to Christie thanking him for his consideration.
Only takes a moment of time to complete e mail form!
I so hope that the laws change there in my lifetime.
Good.
Well, sort of. By commuting the sentence rather than issuing a [full] pardon, the Gov has left Mr. Aitken with a felony on record – he can no longer [legally] own a firearm.
Thanks sent.
I believe the appeal is in the works and the conviction will be thrown out.
Check out the other thread, it’s been discussed there already. Basically, a pardon would not automatically restore his rights, and would also leave him unable to appeal the conviction. Commuting the sentence allows him to continue his appeal, and if necessary he can still request a pardon after the courts uphold the conviction (if they do).
Additionally, IIRC, the process for restoring one’s firearm rights under federal law is completely separate from the process of restoring them under state law, and success depends heavily on how the pardon and state statutes on pardons are worded. I recall reading about people who were pardoned and had all their rights restored under state law – including firearms rights, and even federal voting rights – but because the pardon or state statute wasn’t worded right were still considered prohibited persons under federal law.
It’s a mess, and is something that really needs to be fixed.
Oops, had not noted previous thread. Still, a full pardon would have obviated the need for an appeal. right?
is there a fund to encourage and/or pay for an appeal yet?
It would moot an appeal. But to accept a pardon you have to admit guilt, and Brian is probably not guilty. As for funding, NRA’s civil rights defense fund is paying for Brian’s defense. You can donate to that here.
In one sense, yes. OTOH, if he wants his full rights restored he still would have to jump through a pile of hoops – and pay a lawyer for the privilege of getting his rights back. This way, while he still has to pay a lawyer, there’s a chance of simplifying the whole process a bit, and getting it overturned has greater benefits.
ok
the reason his lawyer faught to have his sentance commutted was not cause it was better then a pardon it was to end his suffering and get him home And out of prission as soon as possible.
personally christie should of pardonned him On the spot given the judge’s History of violating the right to trial by jury… and protecting child molesting bestialophiliacs.