Guns Don't Kill People, Legislation Kills People

by: southernbluedog

Wed Mar 16, 2011 at 04:07:56 PM EDT

THIS JUST IN!!! ASSEMBLYWOMAN BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN IS A MURDERER!!!

Well, at least that's what Governor Christie wants you to think.

Here is PolitickerNJ's coverage of the topic today.

Gov. Chris Christie took aim at Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, (D-15), Wednesday over a bill the assemblywoman sponsored two years ago that allowed for the early prison release of certain convicted criminals.
On March 5, Rondell Jones allegedly murdered Newark resident Eric Thomas in Jersey City, just six weeks after Jones was released under the program. Jones was paroled from Garden State Youth Correctional Facility on Jan. 24, just a year after his conviction on Jan. 22 for the unlawful possession of a handgun and conspiracy for drug dealing, according to the state Department of Corrections website.
Christie put the blame for Thomas' death squarely at the feet of Watson Coleman, saying Thomas' death was on her conscience.

Asw. Watson-Coleman sponsored (and Gov. Corzine signed) legislation that allowed certain prisoners to be released from prison under certain circumstances. Because a person that was released early under this program murdered someone upon their release, somehow Governor Christie thinks it is logical and appropriate to lay 100 percent of the blame on Asw. Watson-Coleman.

Here is vakerr's diary entry written on July 13, 2010 about the legislation.

Follow me below the fold to read some of my outrage.

southernbluedog :: Guns Don't Kill People, Legislation Kills People

I'm almost at a loss of words, actually. My mind is racing all over the place trying to find a thought that I can articulate into something that makes sense.

First, I should say that had Rondell Jones still been in jail, he wouldn't have murdered Eric Thomas. I can't disagree with that. HOWEVER, Jones made the decision to murder Thomas. Watson-Coleman didn't convince him to do it, and she sure as hell didn't force him to pull the trigger.

Governor Christie blames Asw. Watson-Coleman for killing Eric Thomas because she passed legislation. No where in this PolitickerNJ article do they report Christie putting any real blame on the person who actually pulled the trigger. Christie, and the rest of the GOP, wants the government to be smaller so individuals are forced to take more responsibility for themselves. Why does Christie all the sudden want to take away Jones's responsibility for his actions?

And yes, I will bring up gun control. The mantra has always been, "guns don't kill people, people kill people." Well, Governor Christie: legislation doesn't kill people, people kill people. This is a pathetic attempt to score cheap political points. If this legislation was as broken as you claim it was, why did the majority of legislators approve it, and then have it signed by the governor of the time?