Hazardous Living in New Jersey

[rdsmith3]

This story just came through on the news. It is very strange and tragic. Note that:

1) They report that the motorcycle broadsided the car!? How about the car turned in front of the motorcycle.

2) The car driver did do the right thing after the collision

3) The shooter was either randomly releasing anger, or sees himself as a guardian angel of motorcyclists

Driver shot after collision in Newark that killed biker

(08/25/05) NEWARK - A driver involved in a collision in Newark that killed a motorcyclist was shot after getting out of the car to check on the biker.

According to police, the driver was trying to make a U-turn on Irvine Turner Boulevard near West Alpine Street Wednesday when the vehicle was broadsided by a motorcycle. Investigators say the motorcyclist was thrown from the bike and killed.

When the driver went to check on the biker, a man with a gun approached him, fired several shots and fled on foot. The shooting victim is expected to recover. Meanwhile, the shooter remains at large.

[gel9001]

Yep thats New Jersey, welcome to my world. I pack a nine myself, and I'm thinkging of gettting a gun.

Gene

[yjleesvrr]

rd - you just HAD to post that as I'm riding in the "Garden State."

This entire state is practically a suburb, with a highly contrasting social fabric. It is the wealthiest state in the union with the 2nd poorest city (Camden) in the country. It is also one of the most industrial as well as agricultural states too. It has in recent years become a second home to me and I've come to appreciate its better qualities. Yes, they do exist

In having said these things, there is a lot of urban blight here. There are large tracts of Newark I avoid and I don't venture anywhere near Camden unless I get lost in Philadelphia and I inadvertently cross the Delaware river into it. In my home state of Virginia, firearms ownership is freely allowed (provided your background is clean) and conceal carry laws are fairly permissive. New Jersey on the other hand has one of the most (if not the most) restrictive firearms laws in the country. Heaven forbid I ever be caught bringing a gun into the state!

So, if I run into a situation that had me thinking of my Glocks back home, my only recourse would be to throw my Gateway laptop at the perp and ride the hell away as quickly as I can.

[Leno]

We should post that on a few car sites, might make them think before making a turn.

[rdsmith3]

New Jersey IS a great place to live. I live in NW NJ which is hilly and wooded. There are excellent motorcycle roads around here. In my own back yard (literally) I see: black bear, red fox, wild turkey (not the drink), raccoons, deer, and all sorts of birds.

There are some incredibly wealthy areas, and then there are some incredibly poor areas.

There is also a lot of traffic and road rage is all over the place, so be careful.

[TonyT607]

You got it Bob, It is a great place to live - when IBM re-settled me back to the States 5 years ago, I could have lived anywhere in the country - I chose to come back here - I told the realtor my only requirements were to be in NJ and to be within 30 mins of NYC. I was born in Manhattan, and grew up 2 miles from Midtown, so I guess I'm a real city boy. On the plus side, the state is an economic powerhouse, home to lots of high tech, politically (and physically) moderate climate, superb schools, not prone to major natural disasters, and a huge diversity of people, terrain, bodies of water, etc. We even have great beaches (about 45 mins away from me). On the down side, high real estate taxes. And high real estate taxes. Congestion, (people and highways sometimes), political corruption. Lots of it. A few cities (and outskirts) that are still sewers (Newark, Trenton, Atlantic City, Paterson, Camden, Asbury Park et al). Crazy overdevelopment of farmland with cheaply built McMansions srpouting up like wildfire. The older suburbs (where I live was settled in the 1830's) are for the most part quite nice and leafy. And very safe.

And yes we do have among the most restrictive fireams laws in the nation. But, unless you're a felon, (or deemed a mental health risk) with the right paperwork you WILL get your firearms ID in 30 days. A bit tougher for buying a handgun. Carry permit? Fuggedaboutit. Unless you're a cop, the only way to get one is to have it ok'd by a Superior Court judge. Even if your job requires it.

[crousos]

I lived in Newark for 4 years while in college (Newark College of Engineering), what surprised me is that a shooting in Newark made the news.

I am in the NW New Jersey also and I definitely agree with rdsmith3 and Tony.

Tinos