Thank goodness we live in Texas

[chartreuse]

Yes, I've read about this elsewhere and, frankly, I'm baffled. The most charitable (towards the judge) summary that I've seen is that, despite repeated requests from the jurors, he withheld pertinent information about points of law. I've also seen less charitable opinions.

I just can't understand how, given the above, Mr. Aitken hasn't been able to get the conviction overturned on appeal. Unless, perhaps, he's broke? I've long been ambivalent toward the "best justice money can buy" thing...

[chasfm11]

Having lived in NJ for 3 years, I can tell you that the rule of law pretty much doesn't exist there at any level. The rule of corruption reigns supreme. Those in power do pretty much as they please with impunity. Most of the residents (sheeple is a much better term) simply seem to accept everything like the judge's actions.

We couldn't wait to get out of there.

[bigred90gt]

Having lived in NJ for 3 years, I can tell you that the rule of law pretty much doesn't exist there at any level. The rule of corruption reigns supreme. Those in power do pretty much as they please with impunity. Most of the residents (sheeple is a much better term) simply seem to accept everything like the judge's actions.

We couldn't wait to get out of there.

We lived there for a year, and while I loved the area (beautiful changing of the seasons, landscape, lush farmland, etc), the state government was horrible.

[chasfm11]

Having lived in NJ for 3 years, I can tell you that the rule of law pretty much doesn't exist there at any level. The rule of corruption reigns supreme. Those in power do pretty much as they please with impunity. Most of the residents (sheeple is a much better term) simply seem to accept everything like the judge's actions.

We couldn't wait to get out of there.

We lived there for a year, and while I loved the area (beautiful changing of the seasons, landscape, lush farmland, etc), the state government was horrible.

The government at all levels is horrible. We were in West Milford (close to Sterling Forest, NY) and had as many problems with the local, very corrupt government as with the State.

I will say that NJ got one thing right. Auto inspections were done by NJ troopers. We weren't subjected to the "revenue enhancement" measures that so many other States, including Texas, promote through private inspection stations with inspection fees see artificially low.

From a gun standpoint, NJ may be worse than NY if that is possible. They have institutionalized anti-gun policies at all levels. What is amazing is that Newark is a war zone with illegal handguns everywhere and there is little action taken (like Chicago) to do anything about it.

Edited for typo

[bigred90gt]

The government at all levels is horrible. We were in West Milford (close to Sterling Forest, NY) and had as many problems with the local, very corrupt government as with the State.

I will say that NJ got one thing right. Auto inspections were done by NJ troopers. We weren't subjected to the "revenue enhancement" measures that so many other States, including Texas, promote through private inspection stations with inspection fees see artificially low.

From a gun standpoint, NJ may be worse than NJ, if that is possible. They have institutionalized anti-gun policies at all levels. What is amazing is that Newark is a war zone with illegal handguns everywhere and there is little action taken (like Chicago) to do anything about it.

We were just outside of Princeton (in a town called Plainsboro), and I was working in North Branch. While I was up there, I was basically on an extended business trip. As such, I never went to the courthouse or DMV and got an official NJ residence. I had my auto insurance registered at my mothers house in Texas, my vehicle was registered in the (when my registration was up, I registered it to my mothers address and had her mail me the sticker), my inspection was done in Texas (when it expired, I just drove on it until we left because I couldnt get it inspected there unless it was registered there and I had insurance there), my company was in Texas, and they paid for my apartment. the only issue I had was when I got pulled over about 1 month before we were scheduled to leave. The cop told me that in New Jersey, once you have been there for 30 days (even if it is a business trip), you are required to become a NJ resident, give up your Texas DL, and get a NJ DL. I explained my situation to him, and he didnt seem to care. He said if I wanted to get around it that I needed to go to the DMV (or courthouse, I cant remember) and try to convince them. thankfully, he didnt give me a ticket (pulled me over because he said the exhaust on my wife's car was too loud, at 1:00am, with my mother and step father in the car after picking them up from Philly airport). They also pulled my father in law over at 3:00 am because he was driving in the left lane (in NJ, the left lane is strictly for passing). He was the only one on the road, and obviously not interrupting the flow of traffic. He was preparing to turn left (which is a rarity in NJ anyways), and wasnt sure exactly how far from the intersection he was, so he got into the left lane, and was pulled over for it.

As for guns, that state is by far the worst I have ever experienced. In New Jersey, if there is ANY path to exit (including a window) you MUST exit before you can defend yourself with a firearm. Basically, the only way, as I understand it, that you can defend yourself with a firearm in New Jersey, is if you are in a closet, bathroom, or some other room without a window, only 1 door, and the person is coming in that door. However, that was a lost point for me because I was an out of state resident, and legally, i could not have my firearm in New Jersey without registering it with the state and becoming a resident of the state, or applying for a non-resident hunting license. I believe with the non-resident hunting license, I still would have not been legally allowed to defend myself with my firearm, since it's use would have been restricted to hunting.

[chartreuse]

We were just outside of Princeton (in a town called Plainsboro),

Isn't that where House works?

[bigred90gt]

We were just outside of Princeton (in a town called Plainsboro),

Isn't that where House works?

What or who is House?

[chartreuse]

We were just outside of Princeton (in a town called Plainsboro),

Isn't that where House works?

What or who is House?

Doctor in a TV show of the same name. Works at Princeton Plainsboro hospital.

[bigred90gt]

Gotcha. Never seen the show. In reality, there is no such thing as Princeton Plainsboro Hospital, and there is no such place as Princeton-Plainsboro, NJ. They are two separate municipalities.

[Texas Size 11]

I'm thankful every day I wake up...

[ELB]

....I will say that NJ got one thing right. Auto inspections were done by NJ troopers. ...

Indiana got it "righter;" they abolished auto inspections altogether when I was still a kid, because it was just another tax with little to do with safety. To my knowledge, they have never resurrected it, except for an emissions inspection required in three counties near Louisville, I think.


As for NJ and guns -- There's a state just ripe for a federal civil rights investigation, if we ever get a DOJ that gives a flip about the entire BOR as written.

[VMI77]

They have institutionalized anti-gun policies at all levels. What is amazing is that Newark is a war zone with illegal handguns everywhere and there is little action taken (like Chicago) to do anything about it.

Edited for typo

This is not in any way accidental: it's an inevitable, and I'd argue, an intended outcome, of liberal/collectivist philosophy. It's a variation on Stalin's famous remark that one death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic. Criminal predators killing themselves, or those of us in the herd, is just the natural consequence of animal passions in us lesser and unenlightened beings, and hence mere statistics with little import to the enlightened liberal beings managing the collective. It has no meaning beyond its meaning as a statistic. Armed members of the herd expressing an individual right to life, liberty, and self-defense has the power of an idea and that represents an existential threat to the logic and order of the entire collective.

[chasfm11]

They have institutionalized anti-gun policies at all levels. What is amazing is that Newark is a war zone with illegal handguns everywhere and there is little action taken (like Chicago) to do anything about it.

Edited for typo

This is not in any way accidental: it's an inevitable, and I'd argue, an intended outcome, of liberal/collectivist philosophy. It's a variation on Stalin's famous remark that one death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic. Criminal predators killing themselves, or those of us in the herd, is just the natural consequence of animal passions in us lesser and unenlightened beings, and hence mere statistics with little import to the enlightened liberal beings managing the collective. It has no meaning beyond its meaning as a statistic. Armed members of the herd expressing an individual right to life, liberty, and self-defense has the power of an idea and that represents an existential threat to the logic and order of the entire collective.

[OCD]

there is no such place as Princeton-Plainsboro, NJ. They are two separate municipalities.

Like Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.