United Liberty

Though not at the rate of former presidents such as Reagan or Clinton, the expected rush of Bush Presidential pardons have begun, sure to raise the ire of some and the thanks of others.  While all the pardonees have a “non-violent” offense in common, the wsj.com has noted another attribute that some of them share- a love of guns.

Coincidentally or not, at least seven of the 14 pardoned on Monday are former hunters or shooting enthusiasts. In interviews, five of them said they wrote in their petitions to the government that a desire to win back the right to bear arms was a chief reason for wanting a pardon.

Grammy award-winning hip-hop artist John Edward Forte also made the list after serving 7 years of his 14 year sentence for drug trafficking.  Forte has maintained his innocence, claiming that he never received a fair trial.

Two conspicious names not on the list are Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.  I’m sure the families of Ramos and Compean will question Bush’s decision to commute the sentence of a drug trafficker (as well as pardon several others convicted of minor drug use or possession), while leaving the two Border Security Guards in prison for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler.  However, it should be noted that if this senseless, expensive debacle called the War on Drugs didn’t exist, none of them would be in prison in the first place.