sportsjabber.net

First of all, allow me to explain to some and remind others that I’m about as far from being a New York Giants fan as I am from being a fan of Osama Bin Laden, or even worse, a Redskins fan. On top of that, I think that Plaxico Buress is a knucklehead. I’ve yet to decide if the Giants are better off with or without him, but as a Cowboys fan, I’m hoping that whichever state is worse for them, that’s what they get.

Having clarified the above, removed my DeMarcus Ware jersey, and moved my thinking to a more objective state, I wonder if Buress is getting a fair shake re: his gun incident. Don’t get me wrong…I believe that athletes and other rich and famous folks should be treated no better than the rest of us nobodies. But I also believe that they should be treated no worse. I’m not saying for sure that Buress is, isn’t being, or will be treated unfairly or not. I’m just starting to wonder.

I was reading today that Buress is allegedly negotiating a plea deal…one that may include jail time. Legally, a plea deal is a conviction, so we all know that if that happens, “Sheriff Goodell” will also bust Buress at the NFL level.

Now, I don’t support the court letting Buress of the hook. He broke the law, pure and simple. So, he should get a fine, community work, suspended sentence…whatever. Contrary to the positions of some of my more politically-conservative friends, I support gun registration laws for reasons of public safety and accountability, while simultaneously supporting the Constitutional right to bear arms. Heck, I wish prospective gun owners would have to pass a gun safety course and document “X” number of hours of actually being able to come close to hitting what they shoot at before they could legally own a gun. I mean…no one (except car thieves, drug dealers, and bank robbers) complains about driver training/licensing and car registration laws, yet cars and guns are both death machines…the former as an unfortunate side effect, the latter as a far deadlier, but sometimes necessary intended consequence.

I am concerned, however, that “Ole Plaxi-Boob” is going to wind up doing time and getting suspended, pretty much for shooting HIMSELF. If he hadn’t STUPIDLY shot himself (Yo Plax…Guns have safeties for a reason), he probably would be in no trouble right now. Sure…he could have shot someone else, but his gun not being registered (under current registration prerequisites) wasn’t a factor in either the bullet hole in his leg or the potential for harming someone else, since would have STUPIDLY triggered it anyway. “Big Dick Cheney” accidentally shot SOMEONE ELSE and was neither jailed or suspended…and he shouldn’t have been. It was an accident.

Plax is a first-time offender. I wonder what per cent of first-time offenders wind up in the slammer or get busted on their jobs for shooting themselves with unregistered (or registered) guns? If Plax’s name were “Herkimer Farquar” and he worked for “Cousin Earl’s Live Bait & Diner”, would he be facing jail time and a loss of wages right now? Somehow I doubt it.

What about you???