PA Bill Number: HB2235
Title: Providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace; ...
Description: Providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace; ... ...
Last Action: Referred to LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Last Action Date: Apr 25, 2024
NJ Police Charge PA Corrections Officer with Felony Gun Possession :: 02/21/2016
“Sgt. Ray Hughes had taken his wife to dinner in Atlantic City. He was driving home when he and his wife were hit by a drunk driver,” buzzpo.com reports. “When police responded, they noticed his ‘Fraternal Order of Police’ decal and law enforcement credentials. Hughes explained that he had his weapon with him, and police officers assured him that they’d secure it and he could pick it up later at the station.”
Yeah. No . . .
It wasn’t until a few days had passed that Sgt. Hughes received a phone call explaining that he was being charged with a felony punishable by 3-10 years in prison.
The arresting officer explained to Hughes that he was adamantly against arresting him, but the decision came from above his level of authority.
Sgt. Hughes didn’t have a New Jersey concealed carry permit. Nor could he, as a Pennsylvania resident (NJ does not honor PA permits, nor the reverse). But surely Hughes was covered under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, which allows serving police officers to carry in all 50 states (with certain exceptions). LEOSA? No suh!
As buzzpo.com rightly points out, under LEOSA, an officer must have “statutory powers of arrest.” Since Sgt. Hughes is a corrections officer, nope. Not covered. After getting whacked by a drunk driver, nearly losing his life, Sgt. Hughes’ life is about to destroyed.
So, who were these “higher level” authorities who ignored both common sense and professional courtesy? Not known. But the highest level authority in New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie, allows these infringements on his citizens’ natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms.
In the run up to his failed bid to ascend to the executive office, Governor Christie pardoned a few previous, similar cases. Now that he’s not running for President any more, will he do the right thing for Sgt. Hughes? Meanwhile, the Garden State anti-gun madness is set to continue for years to come. RIP, Justice Scalia.
