Monday, December 27, 2004

Something's Not Right Here

I'm going to defer from making any final comments on this Boston Herald story until more facts come to light, but it's not going to bode well for the future of gun owners' rights in the City of Boston, I can tell you that much.

Pump rage fuels gun charges
By Franci Richardson
Sunday, December 26, 2004

A swap of irritating jabs over pumps at a South Bay gas station turned into a Christmas Day assassination attempt yesterday when a 23-year-old man allegedly fired a gunshot into the car of a man with whom he was arguing, police said.


"Assassination attempt"? Well, Ms. Richardson, I'm glad to see there's no editorializing of the news taking place at the Boston Herald these days. [/sarcasm]

Ricardo Rivera, 23, of Dorchester, was arrested on a number of charges including assault with intent to murder. He was nabbed after a driver followed the suspect and called police, said Trooper David Parsons.


Though I can't say it's sounding much like a clear-cut case of self-defense either.

It all began about 3:30 p.m. when the victim pulled into the Roxbury gas station to find a Ford Explorer hogging the pumps.


"Hogging the pumps"? How exactly does one "hog the pumps" at the gas station. Did this guy swipe his credit card at three pumps and jam all three nozzles into his tank? Get a grip, people. Is it that difficult a concept to understand? If you pull up behind someone at the pumps and start filling your tank, and the person in front of you finishes pumping his gas and leaves, you are not "hogging the pumps". It happens all the time for Christ's sake.

The victim, whose identity was withheld by police, admitted to honking at the suspect, who told him to "go the (expletive) around" his car.


No shit, you moron. That's what you're supposed to do when someone is blocking access to the gas pumps in the front - you "drive the fuck around"! Do you actually think that honking your horn is going to enlighten this individual to the fact that your constitutional right to use the closest available gas pump is being violated, prompting him to stop filling his tank and move forward one spot so that you can have your way? Where are you from?

A nasty exchange ensued and Rivera allegedly pulled out his .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun and fired it into the door of the victim's Ford Explorer. The victim was not injured. Rivera also was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession of marijuana and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building. He was licensed to carry a gun, Parsons said.


OK, I call bullshit here. There's no way in hell, given the ludicrous (and covertly racist) nature of firearms licensing laws in Massachusetts, and specifically the City of Boston, that a 23-year-old, Hispanic, male resident of Dorchester was issued an unrestricted Class "A" License to Carry (i.e. License to Carry a Concealed Weapon). To quote 'Joliet' Jake Blues, "No. Fucking. Way."

Rivera was held on $25,000 bail and will be arraigned tomorrow at Roxbury District Court.


Rest assured, this assclown will become the next poster child for the anti-gun movement in the Commonwealth. As if they need any additional inspiration. Screw 'em.