should be enforced
Re: "N.J. man admits intimidation based on race," Wednesday:
The article told of a disabled black Philadelphia police officer driving a BMW in New Jersey who was threatened, intimidated with a gun, and abused with racial slurs by a parolee who had been previously convicted of a cross-burning.
It seems a "plea agreement" was arranged. Charges of unlawful use of a weapon, in this particular case a gun, which would have carried a much heavier sentence, will be dismissed. Imagine that. In New Jersey, where the governor wants stronger gun laws, the sentence for a parolee who is not permitted to touch a gun under the current law will have that charge dropped.
It's obvious that New Jersey needs stricter gun laws, simply because New Jersey judges can't remember the existing gun laws.
John Towarnicki
Philadelphia
Give Fumo
the maximum
Re: " 'Honest,' to a fault," Wednesday:
Thanks for reporting the political pressure from political cronies of former State Sen. Vincent Fumo for federal Judge Ronald Buckwalter to give him a lesser prison term.
Fumo has a heart condition and still eats at fancy restaurants with very high-calorie foods that tax his heart. Then, there is the ridiculous tactic to become engaged while he faces a 27-year term, looking for public sympathy.
Gov. Rendell, Rep. Bob Brady, and former Judge Stephen Zappala, putting pressure on Buckwalter to give Fumo a more lenient sentence, is the most insidious use of political influence that is, frankly, obscene.
Saying "how good Fumo was to the city" is fallacious in light of the fact that he was convicted on 137 counts of criminal malfeasance. In short, he is a crook and deserves the maximum sentence. I hope Buckwalter will stand up to the pressure and send the message that there is no place for crooked politicians.
Philip Lustig
Downingtown
That ray of hope
is really a failure
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