By Dan Roberts
Manasquan, NJ –-(Ammoland.com)- News is breaking that an outspoken critic of New Jersey’s draconian gun laws is being actively targeted with an arrest warrant issued by the New Jersey State Police.
With less then 72 hours before a scheduled Law and Public Safety Committee Hearing on Assembly Bill A2006, a New Jersey proposed law to limit magazine capacity to a maximum of ten rounds of ammunition. Additionally the Assembly Bill A2006 would ban more than 30 models of common .22 plinking rifles. Is it coincidental that the New Jersey State Police should suddenly find need to issue a warrant for Mr. Kaleda’s arrest only days before he would be expected to appear and testify at this type of hearing?
James Kaleda, is a well known outspoken critic of New Jersey gun laws and New Jersey Assembly abuses of parliamentary procedure. Mr. Kaleda was famously thrown out of a similar hearing last year by Democrat George Norcross for being “Out of Order“. Today via social media Mr. Kaleda revealed that he received a phone call from the New Jersey State Police that a warrant has been issued for his arrest over allegations of falsifying portions of an application for a New Jersey Non-Resident Firearms Owner ID Card.
Mr. Kaleda was understandably and wisely reluctant to say exactly what the allegations were when I spoke to him, but he did acknowledge that the State Police contacted him approximately two weeks ago and suggested there was a problem with his paperwork and offered an opportunity to “come in and make corrections”. Mr. Kaleda declined, correctly deducing that presenting himself to make such changes would be viewed as an implicit acknowledgement of actually committing the offense of falsifying the document, essentially admitting to guilt of a technical violation.
It is one of the worst kept secrets in the country that New Jersey’s byzantine gun laws are enforced to a hyper technical level against its’ citizens (read Brian Aitken) and visitors alike (read Greg Revell). Even minor paperwork issues regarding New Jersey gun laws are routinely used as a cudgel to batter people into submission.
Mr. Kaleda previously obtained a valid New Jersey Resident Firearms Owner ID Card as well as numerous Pistol Purchase Permits and successfully purchased firearms in New Jersey without a hint of trouble when he was a resident of the state.
Is this a coincidence? Could Mr. Kaleda have a technical error that has run him afoul of the complex New Jersey gun laws, very possibly. But the timing and allegations against Mr. Kaleda are highly suspect. A targeted effort to silence one of the most vocal and outspoken critics of New Jersey’s gun laws and prevent him from attending the scheduled Law and Public Safety Committee hearing on A2006 is not out of the realm of possibilities in New Jersey.
This type of tyranny is the very tactics of Josef Stalin’s Soviet Union, where it was routine to use the power and authority of the State to aggressively pursue, intimidate, silence and punish critics of the government. This type of behavior should be terrifying to ALL citizens, regardless of their feelings about guns.
When government oppression happens it must be exposed and the perpetrators held accountable. Oppression unpunished, will serve only to further embolden the oppressor. Sooner or later it will be you, or a loved one in the cross hairs of the omnipotent power of the State.
If this is harassment by the state, as it appears, it cannot be allowed to stand, period!
As this goes to press, Mr. Kaleda has been in touch with noted New Jersey firearms law experts Evan Nappen as well as Scott Bach seeking their counsel and advice. More will be reported on this developing story as it occurs.
About Dan Roberts Dan Roberts is a grassroots supporter of gun rights that has chosen AmmoLand Shooting Sports News as the perfect outlet for his frank, ‘Jersey Attitude’ filled articles on Guns and Gun Owner Rights.As a resident of the oppressive state of New Jersey he is well placed to be able to discuss the abuses of government against our inalienable rights to keep and bear arms as he writes from deep behind NJ’s Anti-Gun iron curtain. Read more from Dan Roberts or email him at DRoberts@ammoland.com You can also find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dan.roberts.18