New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress is in heaps of trouble. Not only for accidentally shooting himself in the leg at a Par-tay at a Manhattan club Saturday morning - that injury will likely end his season. No - it's this: New York City passed a wicked lil law last year that says carrying a gun without a permit is a mandatory 3 1/2 year prison sentence!
A law enforcement official said that the gun, a Glock semiautomatic pistol, was recovered at Burress’s home in Totowa, N.J. Burress turned himself in to NYPD this morning, some three days after the incident.
According to NY Daily News, the incident happened thusly:
Burress, 31, who was sporting flashy jewelry and carrying loads of cash, told club management he needed the gun to protect himself, sources said. The mercurial Giant was waved inside the crowded Latin-themed club on Lexington Ave. about midnight. He downed several drinks, making already jittery security guards more nervous about his weapon.As Burress was being led into a VIP area, with a drink in his hand, the gun slipped down his pants leg. He reached for the weapon, but fumbled it and it went off, sources said. The bullet tore through Burress' already injured right thigh, police said. "[The bullet] went in and out. No bones," Chief Michael Collins, a police spokesman, said.
But then...
Plaxico then told his friend, Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce not to call 911 for an ambulance. It wasn't until two hours after being shot that Burress was taken to an emergency room by his wife, Tiffany, and a friend. That was at 2 a.m., and he was finally released at about 12:45 p.m., sources said.
Cops only learned about the incident after Giants employees called the NYPD to report it, sources said.
According to state law, a person carrying a gun without a permit faces 3 ½ to 15 years in prison. NYC Mayor Bloomberg has bragged that it's one of the toughest laws in the country and that NO ONE would be excused from mandatory sentencing.
Burress did have a concealed-weapon permit issued to him in Florida, where he has a home, but it expired in May. But New York does not recognize out-of-state permits anyway.
In addition, Burress may also be facing punishment by the NFL Under the league’s personal-conduct policy, violations of local gun laws can result in a player’s suspension.
