When I was growing up, my parents would allow my friends and I to drink in our house for special occasions. It was by no means a weekly event, but when the occasional party or graduation came about, we had fun. No one was allowed to leave afterwards. Everyone had to sleep over or have a parent pick them up. I guess that was the compromise of allowing someone underage to drink. No one got in trouble. None of the other kids parents called my parents yelling. No one really cared, because no one got hurt. At that time, none of us had a car, but even if we did, it was out of the question that someone would then get in a car and drive. 

Times have changed though. Now, if a parent allows their kid, let alone someone else's kid, that is underage to drink, the parent is in trouble. It is against the law. Some parents don't understand that because when they were young it was common practice. Some parents don't care what the law is. And then there are the parents not really paying attention to anything going on and want to be cool. In a sad story out of North Carolina, one family learned the hard way why you should not provide alcohol to underage drinkers, especially why you should not allow them to then drive.

In North Carolina, parents hosted a wedding reception where teenagers were drinking underage. The teenagers were drinking liquor they bought before the reception. The parents state that they did not actually give the teens permission to drink at the party, but prosecutors argue that the teenagers, were drinking openly at the reception for all to view. One of the teenage girls stated that no one was limiting the amount of alcohol the teens drank. The teens then left the reception, got into a car accident, where one of the teenagers died. The parents hosting the reception are now charged with four counts of aiding and abetting underage possession and consumption of alcohol and are on trial.

Is it worth it to not know the law? I have no idea why none of the adults at this reception stopped the teens or secured rides home for them. You have to imagine that someone saw what they were doing if it wasn't being hidden. Why did all of the adults ignore it? Let this be a lesson next time you are out. Sure your kid will be mad. Sure he might say he hates you, but that will pass. Of course if you have kids, you know that if you give them an hour they will find another reason to hate you or that you are ruining their life. That is what teenagers do. At the end of the day, you are a parent, not a friend. It is your job to teach right from wrong. Of course that is easier said then done!

For some individuals, owning a gun is very important. However, just because you want one, doesn't mean you get one. A local Burlington County man has found this out the hard way. The man owns a few older rifles and wanted to add a new weapon so him and his son could practice target shooting. He applied for a permit, but was denied because it "was not in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare." He appealed and was denied again for the same reasons, in addition to the fact that he has two children living with him and his wife is barred from owning a firearm because of a past drug offense. The man appealed again, this time our Appellate court heard the matter. The court found that the man's wife's background raised serious concerns about her living in a house with a gun, even if her husband was the owner. The husband swore he would keep the gun in a locked box out of the wife's reach and control. However, that is sometimes easier said than done. One of the judge's stated that putting more weapons in the home increased the chances of access to those guns by the wife. I'm not sure at this point if the man will take this issue to the Supreme Court in New Jersey.

Well, now I have seen it all! A new cell phone case that gives the appearance that you have a gun in your pocket. As you may know, New Jersey is not that easy to have a carry permit. Typically, only police or security persons have it. Using this case may make you popular with your thug-like friends, but it will also make you VERY popular with the police! Gun charges are no joke here since there is mandatory jail time. This may make the product owner money, but it will certainly make attorneys money if we need to defend individuals for falling into such a foolish trend. BE WARE and stay away from this product.

Read news article here

In Vermont, a man thought it might help him get out of jury duty if he wore a prisoner's costume to the jury call. He was released from serving on a jury when he showed up wearing a black and white striped jumpsuit with a matching beanie. He arrived on time and fell inline with the other, more appropriately dressed, individuals appearing for the jury duty call that morning. Deputies saw his outfit and called him into an empty courtroom, where a judge spoke with him and told him to leave. The judge said he could find the man in contempt of court for pulling such a stunt. However, he did not. 

Technically, the instructions for service on a jury in Vermont do not list a specific outfit that must be worn. It actually does not even restrict the clothing at all. Luckily, this man escaped without any record. Would you be so brave to appear at a courthouse in a prisoner costume?