As the Revolving Door Turns

The Martha's Vineyard Times - July 13, 2006:

Boston murder suspect arrested on drug charges in Oak Bluffs

Following a month-long investigation by members of the Martha's Vineyard drug task force, Oak Bluffs police Monday arrested Winston McGhee, 22, on drug charges. Mr. McGhee, police believe, came to the Vineyard to sell crack cocaine. He had 31 packets of crack cocaine and approximately $1,200 in his possession, according to Oak Bluffs Police Lieutenant Tim Williamson.

[snip]

Mr. McGhee was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of marijuana, and distribution of crack cocaine within 100 feet of a park.

So, who is Winston McGhee? Well...

According to a story published Oct. 5, 2002, in the Boston Globe, a Suffolk County grand jury found enough evidence to indict Mr. McGhee, then 18, on a charge of first-degree murder for allegedly chasing Antwon Leslie, 18, down a street and shooting him in the back. At the time, Mr. McGhee was on probation for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. [I. Am. Stunned. - ed.]

Not to worry, Winston, my lad. It's nothing a little juror intimidation can't remedy.

Last month, prosecutors ended the prosecution of Mr. McGhee on the 2002 murder charge after key witnesses recanted statements made to police, according to the Globe.

So, anyway, back to last June...

He was arraigned in Edgartown District Court Tuesday morning and is currently being held in the Dukes County Jail on $25,000 cash bail. Police anticipate prosecutors will seek an indictment in Superior Court, a move that would allow for stiffer penalties and could preclude a stay in the Dukes County House of Correction.

Stiffer penalties for violent repeat offenders? Well, that sounds promising, right? They really must be cracking down these days.

Yeah...um...not so much.

BPDNews.com, September 18, 2006:

Shots Fired Ends in Arrest

Early this morning around 2:20am, while on a fixed a post at 683 Morton street officers in District 3 heard one shot fired at the Mobil Gas Station at Morton Street and Blue Hill Avenue. On arrival officers observed a very large group gathering in the gas station and heard four to five more shots fired and observed a motor vehicle leave the scene at a high rate of speed. Officers stopped the vehicle an arrested Winston McGhee, 22, of Boston charging him with Unlawful Possession of Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition and Discharging Firearm within 500FT of Dwelling.

But it's all New Hampshire's fault! Mumbles says so!

So, you see, There's simply nothing that can be done to lock up these pieces of shit, so we'd better pass more gun control laws. You just need to follow this simple rule of thumb - when in doubt, use the actions of a miniscule portion of society to justify the abrogation of the rights of the overwhelming majority.

Makes perfectly good sense to, um, well, Bay State legislators.

Good ol' Winnie McGhee here looks like just the type of person who would most likely be driven to a life of law-abiding goodness and charity with the passage of, say, a new One-Gun-a-Month law (a favorite of our "tough on crime" would-be governor, Deval Patrick), or a few more restrictions on the issuance of gun permits.

Morons.