Pardoned by Christie, Shaneen Allen pushed for change to U.S. gun laws

The handgun that Shaneen Allen was carrying when she was pulled over on a New Jersey highway could have sent her to prison for years if not for a pardon from Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Now the legal saga that kept the Pennsylvania mother of two in jail for 48 days has helped inspire a measure… Read the rest of this entry »

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Year in review: April 2015

Governor Chris Christie pardoned Shaneen Allen, the single mother from Philadelphia who was arrested on gun possession charges in Atlantic County in 2013.

Senator Bob Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges. Menendez stepped down as ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

State Senator Joe Kyrillos endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.

Brookdale Community College President Maureen Murphy applied for the top job at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas.  She didn’t get it.

The year in review: 2015

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Christie Pardons Shaneen Allen

Governor Chris Christie has issued a full pardon to Shaneen Allen, the single mother from Philadelphia who was arrested on October 1, 2013 during a traffic stop in Atlantic County on gun possession charges.  Allen revealed to the police officer who stopped her that she was in possession of a hand gun that was licensed in Pennsylvania.

Allen told MMM that Christie informed her of the pardon during a phone call this afternoon.  She posted the good new on facebook and Brietbart broke the news including a copy of the pardon.  Allen had not seen the pardon paperwork until MMM sent her a link to the Brietbart report.

Allen, who had no previous criminal record, spent 40 days in the Atlantic County Jail following her arrest and before making bail.  Atlantic County Prosecutor James McClain rejected Allen’s initial  application for Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) and was on track to prosecute her to the fullest extent of the law, which could have included a 10 year jail sentence.

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Report: Shaneen Allen Admitted to PTI

Single mother is facing eviction, electric has been shut off

Shaneen Allen, the 27 year old Philadelphia single mother facing a New Jersey State Prison term for bringing a Pennsylvania licensed handgun into New Jersey has been offered entry into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program, according to a report on NBC10.  (H/T Save Jersey)

Atlantic County Prosecutor James McCain issued a statement which said that, upon review, his rejection of Allen’s application to the PTI program was contrary to a 2008 “Graves Act” directive, according to NBC10. Read the rest of this entry »

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“Ray Rice and Gun Control” ~ Colin Noir

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Christie’s Office: Separation of powers prevents Governor from intervening in Shaneen Allen case

Shaneen Allen and her sons Niare and Sincere

Governor Chris Christie’s office responded to a constituent who had written in support of Shaneen Allen with a phone call stating that the separation of powers prevents the Governor from intervening in the Atlantic County prosecution.

Allen is a 27 year old single mother who is facing a possible 10 years in State Prison for bringing her Pennsylvania licensed handgun into New Jersey.  She is being prosecuted by Atlantic County Prosecutor James McClain, a Christie appointee.  McClain refused to allow Allen to enter the same Pre-Trial Intervention Program for first offenders that former Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice was admitted to after he knocked out his then fiancee in an Atlantic City casino elevator last February.

Last week, McClain requested a three week adjournment in the case.  This was seen as a sign by Allen’s supporters that McClain is reconsidering his decision to prosecute due to the public outcry since the video of Rice beating his fiancee became public.

In the call from Christie’s office this afternoon to James Hogan of Howell Township, a young sounding man left a message stating that he was calling from the Governor’s office. Hogan forwarded the message to MMM:

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Atlantic County Prosecutor Requests Delay In Shaneen Allen Case

NRA News is reporting that Atlantic County Prosecutor James McClain has requested a three week adjournment in the case of Shaneen Allen, a single mother who faces a possible 10 years in prison on gun charges for bringing her Pennsylvania licensed handgun into New Jersey.

NRA News reporter Ginny Simone said that McClain’s letter to the Court requested three weeks to review the case for an appropriate resolution. Allen’s attorney Evan Nappen said that letter is a hopeful sign that McClain is reconsidering his prosecution of Allen.

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Justice for Rice. Now let’s have some Justice for Shaneen Allen

Shaneen Allen and her sons Niare and Sincere

Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was released by the NFL team today and suspended indefinitely by the league as a result of the public outrage at the video of Rice knocking out his then fiancee that was released by TMZ this morning.

Clearly, the NFL’s move is a public relations and business decision.  NFL officials had seen the video prior to suspending Rice for only 2 games and docking his pay for a third.

One has to wonder if Atlantic County Prosecutor James McClain would have accepted Rice into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program had the video become public before the former Rutgers star was given leniency.  Rice had been indicted on third degree aggravated assault charges after clocking his wife.  The prosecutor said there was enough evidence for a conviction even without Mrs. Rice’s cooperation. Presumably he meant the video.  Rice faced five years in prison, but McClain accepted him into the Pre-Trial Invention Program for first offenders.  If Rice stays out of trouble until May of next year, he is off the hook, legally, for the assault.

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Atlantic County Justice

Shaneen Allen and her sons Niare and Sincere. Photo via facebook

The mainstream media will be making a big deal today about the leniency Baltimore Raven Ray Rice received from the NFL after knocking out his then finance in Atlantic City in February. TMZ obtained an released a video of the incident this morning. Sources are quoted as saying that NFL officials saw the video before suspending Rice for the first two games of this season and docking his pay for a third game.

But the NFL would not be subject to the public outrage they are experiencing had the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office not been lenient with Rice first.  Rice was first charged with simple assault.  The charges were upgraded to aggravated assault by an Atlantic County Grand Jury.  Rice faced a possible five years in State Prison.   But the Prosecutor accepted Rice’s application into the Pre-trial Intervention Program for First Offenders and his Not Guilty plea which leaves him off the hook if he stays out of trouble for a year.

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