Plaxico Burress, Giants WR and everyone’s favorite chowderhead, did not have a permit for the gun that he fired into his own leg Friday night at New York City’s Latin Club, according to the New York Post.
Burress did have a concealed-weapon permit in Florida, but that expired in May. The total ying yang was trying to unload his gun for club security personnel while drinking a glass of wine. The gun slipped and kaboom, the idiot shot himself in the leg.
Here’s the problem for Mr. Burress: Mayor Bloomberg said last year that he would be cracking down on concealed weapons charges. As in, mandatory minimum 3-5 years in jail.
“Last year, our Administration succeeded in pushing through a law that gives New York the toughest penalty in the country for carrying an illegal loaded handgun” Bloomberg said in July 2007. “Now, if you are convicted, you will serve a minimum of 3-1/2 years behind bars “" no exceptions.”
“No exceptions.” Raise your hand if you think Burress will really do time. That’s what I thought.
And while he didn’t even have a permit in Florida, it wouldn’t have mattered if he did.
“New York has the most restrictive pistol-licensing system in the United States,” said Thomas King, president of the New York Rifle and Pistol Association. “It recognizes absolutely no out-of-state permits. An out-of-stater never has the authority to carry [here].”
While Mayor Bloomberg said that the charge would carry a minimum 3 1/2-5 years jail sentence, the NY Post states that he would face a maximum of one year in jail if convicted.
Either way, Burress seriously effed up, and we haven’t even started talking about suspensions handed down by the NFL. Then again, that should be the least of his worries.
So what’s the big deal? What if he slightly injured himself while driving his car? Guns are no big deal, they’re just tools.