New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie remarked to a local radio program that he has “concerns” about the prosecution of legal gun owner Shaneen Allen, but deferred to the criminal justice system to have its say first before commenting further.
Speaking to NJ 101.5’s “Ask the Governor” show Thursday, Christie did refer to his gubernatorial pardon powers should the result of the case not meet his liking.
“I have real concerns about it, but I have to give the criminal justice system an opportunity to deal with this. Now, if we get to the end of the criminal justice adjudication, and I believe that justice was not served in a manner in which my authority under the constitution allows me to fix, then I’ll certainly consider that,” Christie said. “But I don’t want to intervene beforehand.”
Christie added that his experience as a prosecutor — he was a U.S. Attorney appointed by President George W. Bush — gives him perspective on weighing in prematurely.
“I didn’t like, as a prosecutor, when politicians intervened before my work was done as a prosecutor, and so I don’t want to be one of those politicians who does exactly the same thing, because most of the time they only do it for grandstanding purposes,” he said.
Shaneen Allen, a Pennsylvanian, is currently under investigation for unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of hollow-point bullets after crossing into New Jersey by car. She volunteered to police during a traffic stop that she had a concealed handgun and its Pennsylvania permit in her car, but the permit is void in New Jersey. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of three-plus years in prison.
The case of Allen, who does not have a prior criminal record, has drawn a significant level of backlash from gun rights advocates and skepticism from the general public.
“It’s a very high price to pay for telling the truth. That’s New Jersey,” Michael Sodini, President of Eagle Imports, told NRA News. Eagle Imports is the only U.S. marketer of the firearm in Allen’s possession.
“Shaneen is not a criminal. She would have definitely not taken the time to buy a gun that has three safeties, and engaged all the safeties. She’s a mother. She has children. She did the right thing. She’s protecting herself, she’s protecting her family. She doesn’t need to spend a day in jail.”
Allen has said she bought the gun after being robbed twice last year.
The latest news of the case, however, could bode well for the defense. The prosecuting attorney, who to this point has pursued the charges to the fullest extent of the law, signaled this week that he is softening his stance, telling the presiding judge that he is reviewing his position “on the appropriate resolution of this matter.” Accordingly, the trial, scheduled for Oct. 6, was moved back two weeks.
