Quoted:
You're the DA. You really going to push a felony on him, have the guy locked up and ruin an
otherwise positive and exemplary life?
Absolutely.
Okay... I'm a prosecutor. I don't like guns. More to the point, I don't like OTHERS to have guns. It's cool for me, since I do have an NJ FID card, and a permit to carry, because I'm special... (voice of Judge Dred) I AM THE LAW. So, here we have this guy... this "gun nut", and I can pin a 4th degree crime on him. It's his first offense, so he won't do any time. But - ya know what? I got a slam-dunk conviction (because the dummy admitted that he knew it was against the law... knew it was over the 15 round limit... these clowns never do learn to keep their mouths shut when talking to the police)... he'll get sentenced to probation. BUT.... I get to take his guns. Yep, all of 'em. It's part of the plea agreement I suckered him in to taking (and his public defender went along with it... no skin off his nose). "Gimme your guns (that we already confiscated during your arrest - so really just sign this agreement saying you won't sue to have your property returned), and gimme your FID card. I'll recommend probation-only... heck, might even recommend just some community service.... cause I'm on your side, buddy... you don't want to see the inside of a jail. That's a good boy... yep, sign right there"
Okay - so now I get to claim that I took all these evil guns off the streets, and since you pled guilty to a crime that could have landed you in prison for 3 years, you're now a federally prohibited person.... you'll never own a firearm again.
And so, having stripped another citizen of their God-given right to self-defense, yet not having destroyed a family... exit our hero prosecutor, stage left.
Think that above scenario wouldn't play out? BANK ON IT. I've seen exact scene play out more than once.