Prosecutors Misinform Judiciary Comm. in Testimony on Gun Bill

National Rifle Association

USA -(Ammoland.com)- Two baffling and unforgivable things happened during testimony on HB-245, the Burden of Proof bill, in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, March 23, 2017.

ONE: The Florida representative of NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Moms Demand Action (MDA) gave testimony that sounded like it was written by the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association (FPAA).

In testimony she claimed, “State prosecutors stand with us asserting that this bill will make it harder to prosecute gun crimes.”

She went on to claim that Florida’s prosecutors are already overworked and overburdened and that they have high case loads and low budgets.

Sounding more and more like State Attorney Phil Archer’s mantra, she echoed Archer’s previous testimony complaining about the works loads and funding of prosecutors.

All of that is troubling because according to data from the Justice Administrative Commission, State Attorneys/prosecutors had a cash surplus of over $50 million at the end of BOTH of their last two fiscal years and their case load is down over 30% for the last 5 years.

That doesn’t sound like underfunded and overworked to us. They clearly have adequate staff and funding to do the investigations to protect the rights of innocent citizens.

The most curious and subsequently telling thing the Bloomberg Moms leader said was, “All 20 of Florida’s State Attorneys oppose this bill.”

That was something new that had been not reported before. It begged the question, “How could she know that?”

TWO: That question was answered pretty quickly when State Attorney Phil Archer representing the prosecuting attorneys association said the same thing.

Archer said, “I appreciate the reduction in the standard of proof. I think that makes it a little better but all 20 State Attorneys are still very much opposed to this bill.”

Bingo! it really looks like the prosecutors association is feeding testimony to Bloomberg’s Moms.

But more importantly, the statement — made by both, the Bloomberg Moms and State Attorney Phil Archer — is false.

A text message from a State Attorney received shortly after the statement was made, said the statement was false. So, at least one State Attorney, if not more, have not taken a position against the bill.

We expect people to be truthful, particularly when they testify before committees, but sometimes some are not. It is especially troubling when a State Attorney representing the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association is untruthful. Further troubling is the lack of respect for justice and innocent people who act in self-defense.

In some cases, by not doing proper investigations and by not objectively evaluating cases before charging innocent citizens in self defense cases, some prosecutors end up trying to extort plea bargains from frightened citizens to cover their lack of evidence and send innocent people to prison.

That may save prosecutors money on a trial but it imposes the enormous financial burden and the tragedy of the incarceration of innocent people on another agency and taxpayers, and is devastating to innocent people and their families.

You need to know when the people who are elected to protect the rights of law-abiding people are willfully working to subvert those rights. Under our nation’s judicial system, you are innocent until proven guilty.

A prosecutor who thinks you should be guilty until you can prove yourself innocent is not looking out for you or justice.

 

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Alan

When, if ever, will we see at least one of these paid Bloomberg liars prosecuted for perjury is something that I now and then wonder. Also, how come that they seem to enjoy such largess, or is prosecution for perjury a game of played based on whether or not some prosecutor has a headache or not?

Gary C

If the democrats keep wallowing, in their swill, they just might someday come up and smell the truth. President Jefferson started their smear the truth politics, and it just keep going.

Angel

There he is surrounded by all those guns.

Jim S

So if you are a friend or work for Mr Bloomberg, he can get you a license to carry including going into GFZ’s. If that isnt the height of hypocrisy and elitism I dont know what would be. Im sure if all firearms were banned he would ask his protection detail to drop their firearms – NOT!

Mr Darrell A Bradley

The LEFT aka Democrat Party is corrupt to the core and has corrupted EVERY formerly honest institution in the country; EVERY three letter federal agency is corrupt and not to be trusted….

Jimbo66

Exactly right Mr. Bradley.

Wild Bill

I, too, agree with Mr B. I note with interest that the Supreme Court is often abbreviated S.Ct and … is there a way to abbreviate Congress in three letters?