E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSA man on a long list of people pardoned by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour in 2012 is a suspect in a shootout that left another man dead, the Jackson Free Press reported Friday.
Wayne "Honkey" Harris, who was one of 203 people pardoned during Barbour’s last week in office — touching off a storm of controversy and a legal battle — was attending a “friendly cookout,” on Thursday when he got into an argument that escalated into a gunfight, the Calhoun County Journal reported.
In the melee, Chris McGonagill was shot multiple times, allegedly by Harris, and died later at the hospital. Harris was shot twice, allegedly by McGonagill, and was hospitalized with a shattered femur and a bullet lodged in his side, according to the Journal. Harris was due for surgery Friday afternoon, the report said.
Harris, whose gun was allegedly used in the shootout, was permitted to own a gun because of the 2012 pardon had wiped his record clean of a 2001 felony conviction for selling marijuana.
Three other men were present when the shooting occurred and were being questioned as witnesses, the Jackson Free Press reported, citing Calhoun County Sheriff Greg Pollan.
Pollan told the Journal that at least 13 shots were fired, but they did not know who had fired first. No charged had been filed as of Friday evening.
Barbour pardons, many issued the day that his successor was inaugurated in January 2012, wiped the record clean for many people who had already served time for their crimes. It also granted release to some inmates and pardoned four people convicted of murder, the Christian Science Monitor reported.
Controversy over the list led to a legal challenge but the Mississippi Supreme Court in March ruled 6-3 to reaffirm the governor’s right to use his executive powers to grant clemency.
Barbour defended the pardons as well-considered acts of mercy, the Monitor reported, citing a statement he issued at the time:
"These were decisions based on repentance, rehabilitation, and redemption, leading to forgiveness and the right defined and given by the state constitution to the governor to offer such people a second chance."
Leave a Comment:
congratulations, haley. what a great law-and-order politician.
Honkey and Haley...ought to get together...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh_CQnhZ8cY
It's too bad that he didn't visit Barbour to have his little shootout with his legally registered gun! That would have been real karma.
For all you that are so biased against Republicans that you just want to use this to quickly assail a Repub politician, did you note that Harris' crime was SELLING MARAJUANA! The very "crime" you're trying to decriminalize. Technically, according to Dems, Harris shouldn't have been in jail for a felony ever!! Don't be so liberally biased that it clouds your basic judgement.
"No man is above the law". Maybe. Maybe not.
Told ya so, back when he let his help walk. If a child killer had been his cook he would have pardoned him to.
Isn't Mississippi on the bottom of every list compiled? Common sense among them. Ya know them
Christians and their forgiveness............
obliviously you haven't been out of lately...you know them devil worshiper's and their vengeance...LOL...
inestwat; I can see that you are one of the more ignorant posters!!!!!!!!!! Has nothing to do with Christians, Moron.
Nuh-uh, Inesto. Mississippi ranks first in obesity and teen pregnancies. So there. . .
More serious problems caused by those wussy, pussy, weak on crime republikans. Oh yeah, these republikans talk tough but their actions show how soft they are on crime. Especially when $$$$$ is involved.
he spent time in jail, for selling MJ; in jail he became a real criminal!
Funny how it does not say if the Governor is a Democrat or a Republican? My best guess is that he is a Democrat and the liberal media is slow to report such facts.
Not only is he a Republican, but he was the Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1993-1997, and he has been a famous and extremely influential Republican operative since the Reagan years. So... you're kidding, right? Your best guess is that the "liberal media is slow to report" that one of the most well known and important Republicans for the last 30 years is a Democrat?! Either you are kidding, or you are actually completely ignorant of American politics. Educate yourself on a very basic level before sharing your opinions and you won't embarrass youself quite as much with your "best guesses".
republican or democrat they're all just corporately controlled ass holes...
Yeah, because democrats can get elected to Governor of ol Miss!
Barbour was the former RNC chair and former Gov. of Mississippi. Right wing ass clown through and through.
I do not think it matters, dem or rep, all of them are just a bunch of lying thieving dirtbags that care about know one but themselves. All politicians are worthless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am just curious as to why this guy was pardoned, how much money did he pay to Barbour, since politicians do nothing for free.
just like lawyers ........................nothing for free, and no morals.
You know there is a right way to handle things and a wrong way in life. It may be possible, if that politician goes to donate his organs, they find his brain a perfect specimen, unused.With the way our government goes about treating our citizens who don't do anything wrong, is it any wonder a Governor messes things up for those who break the law? How about the following example, does this give us a fair look at how things seem to work so often?
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), The FBI, and the CIA are all trying to prove that they are the best at apprehending criminals. The President decides to give them a test. He releases a rabbit into a forest and each of them has to catch it.
The CIA goes in. They place animal informants throughout the forest. They question all plant and mineral witnesses. After three months of extensive investigations they conclude that rabbits do not exist.
The FBI goes in. After two weeks with no leads they burn the forest, killing everything in it, including the rabbit, and they make no apologies. The rabbit had it coming.
The LAPD goes in. They come out two hours later with a badly beaten bear. The bear is yelling: "Okay! Okay! I'm a rabbit! I'm a rabbit!"
Now I don't think they were cooking rabbit, more like steak, ribs or hot dogs. Bears are not usual for BBQs either.Not to poke fun at anyone who was injured because of getting shot.If they were fighting over food, why I sure hope it was the best food in that neck of the wood, and sure worth the hoop and hollering over. That being the case, they might rethink their personal issues and look at going into commercial business. Otherwise, death or disability might put a damper on their current relationship.
I do hope they both recover quickly. Can't say no harm, no foul though, perhaps use water pistols next time, with sweet and tangy hot sauce.
Funny how if its a democrat its their fault for being a liberal and if its a Republcan they all do it! Etc
You're so ignorant you can't even bother to do a search on the internet and find out Barbour is a republican. I guess its easier for teatards to make up lies then do some reading.
I am not embarrassed , not by a long shot. In most cases if it is a Republican it is out in the first paragraph. I don't know every politician in the country and don't need to to be educated in politics. But look at the generally hostile tones of the replies. And assumptions as well. May your day Begin and end with the mushy feel of @!$%# of dog under your feet, fools you are.
You failed to mask your ignorance by exposing your limited, if that, knowledge of the subject. If the politics of the ex-governor, is a mystery to you, just what do you not know about him?
H-E-L-L-O out there. Get into the "loop!" Barbour is a REPUBLICAN. BIG time!
Sorry! Not a Dem this go round!!!!
**Really shouldn't make a difference though. He simply MISCALCULATED on this one!
Suggestion: Update yourself on POLITICS! Surely it will enhance your knowledge of "who's who!"
Go finish your nap, Grandnapper.
My guess is you would be wrong.
Grandnapper, a 5 second Google search would have saved you a lot of embarrassment. Unfortunately, you were too busy looking for more proof of "liberal media bias." You really should stick to topics you know more about. Or coloring in your coloring book.
You all feel better now? So I made a comment that was not researched, you wasted your most important inner feelings to satisfy your need to verbally punish me. I am educated enough to know my day will be well spent and my life is well lived, with out the need for your approval. Its a comment forum dumb asses get over it and over your selves.
Good answer. you just have to work on your hostility toward "libs" they are not your enemies they are your brothers.
People sure are mean to you. You sorta deserved it :-)
Grandnapper: Your best bet would have been a good nature mea culpa, but you chose to dig in and try to prove that even though you were wrong, you were still somehow right. Oh, and to hope that people step in dog poop. You might have a life that's "well lived" but on this thread you have no credibility. Take a nice walk and better luck tomorrow.
The only thing "slow" is you.
You made a comment. No, you assumed you had an answer based on your bias. Best to be thought a fool and silent then to open your mouth and remove all doubt. People make mistakes all the time, your birth being one of them. Ignorance is your bliss and education has nothing to do with living a 'well life'. Apparently, you felt insulted enough to take the time to retort against these comments, and so far you have spent your day commenting on people's comments so how full could your life really be?
I pity you.
To Garrie.....his big felonious crime was SELLING MARAJUANA....the very crime Dems want to decriminalize. Not only would a Democratic Governor have pardoned him, when he was originally arrested, he would have been let out immediately and given a small business loan!!! Dem hypocrites.
Leroy, I personally know a number of right-leaning libertarians who want pot to be legalized, so it's not just Dems. Oh, and please list Democratic governors who have a habit of automatically releasing drug dealers and giving them business loans.
why they called him honkey harris...why did the media give his nick name it has a racial overtone...joe biden...might want to run for president when he grows up...if he had a son nick named honkey...would it help him...this story is bout honkey and honkism...honk if your high...
Come on lets dig into this - WHEN did he buy the gun? If it was at a BBQ did he have a concealed permit? Just because you own a gun doesn't mean you can carry it in public. He would have had to take a class to have a concealed permit - if he was carrying it illegally it doesn't matter if he owned it legally - very shoddy reporting - get the facts out there instead of portraying it like he was a legally carrying citizen. I'm guessing you will find he didn't have a concealed permit and therefore this story is entirely misleading and tries to sway public opinion with falsehoods. Print the FACTs - thats the job of a news organization.
i'm gon'a answer them thar question's with wild ass guess's...bought the gun from a guard on his way out of prison...no he didn't hide the BBQ so he didn't need a conceal permit...expecting responsible reporting is a thing of the pass...we have corporately backed media...doing politically motivated news...so corporate can get their political agenda took care of...and the world keeps turning...
Whether or not he could legally carry the gun is in question. In purchasing the gun however he would have been completely legal since his criminal record was wiped out by the pardon.
It is late night and I should not be commenting on this kind of "crap on crap news"...but I cannot resist - only because of some of the comments. Stop being so mean on Mississippi.
Here are some great laws in Mississippi
The fine for waving a gun in public is higher than actually shooting it.
Cattle rustling is punishable by hanging.
"Crap on crap news" is a phrase that I'll remember! I'd say your late-night commenting is just fine.
They weren't too big on waving signs in Mississippi either, especially during the 60s.
dang i may go there for a cheap vacation...
love nim or hate him he has an awsome nickname! HONKEY
Thereby proving the lasting value of execution. If he had been executed, He would never have broken another law.
And if he was protecting his life? Dog man thinks he should have been executed. His charge was pot.
You would execute a person for possession of marijuana? People like you on the far right are extremely dangerous!
so obviously you'd prefer to have schoolchildren shot or stabbed. If this jackass can walk in, so can anyone.
Obama and Biden have heavily armed security 24/7. Why is that different?
so obviously you'd prefer to have schoolchildren shot or stabbed. If this jackass can walk in, so can anyone.
Obama and Biden have heavily armed security 24/7. Why is that different?
so obviously you'd prefer to have schoolchildren shot or stabbed. If this jackass can walk in, so can anyone.
Obama and Biden have heavily armed security 24/7. Why is that different?
We read it the first time nimrod! And what does a shooting between two individuals at a BBQ have to do with school safety?
"Life is tough, it's even tougher when you're stupid'" John Wayne
Obama and Biden have security because they are the most high profile potential targets in the nation and there are a lot of unbalanced people out there. I do see a potential NRA proposal in this though. Everyone in the entire country should have an armed escort.
Yeah, you have to shout it a lot before it penetrates beyond the cave entrance...
I dont blame the Gov for pardoning a Marijuana seller. A useless conviction for a victimless activity. In no way is it a violent crime. And has no bearing on why this incident became violent. The story even says, they dont know who fired first, so he may have been defending himself. MJ is going to be legal nation wide soon enough. The next generation will see to that, its only matter of time. And then every conviction will be wiped when that happens. The next generation will see to that too.
Agreed.
Sign this petition on https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/enact-legislation-will-provide-mental-health-assessments-people-currently-owning-guns/ZDmYD9M1
Enact legislation that will provide mental health assessments for people currently
owning guns. While background checks need to be mandatory for all purchasers we need a mechanism o
address the problem of current gun owners or people residing with them who may have slipped into mental illness.
There should be a way for family, law enforcement, neighbors, and other concerned citizens to request an evaluation. If the person is found to be mentally ill by a competent mental health professional, a legal hearing should commence to adjudicate the removal of the guns and that name be placed on the registry to prevent further purchases.
Sorry but that is one of the most outrages and ignorant petition. I think you have a screw loose so they should investigate you and take your rights away without due process, against the constitution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We already have laws that state that if a family member thinks someone is mentally unstable and possibly violent they can file to have them picked up and checked out or put in an institution. Fortunately they can not just say anyone is unstable without some evidence otherwise we would have a bunch of people abusing the laws and being vindictive. We cannot just have a bunch of people running around violating every ones rights because of fear........
Why do the really ignorant people always come out of the woodwork like roaches when they see anti gun issues arise?
Hey Sea2see, listen to this Moronic barely breathing idiot, 100% it's a stolen gun, go look up the FBI stats, firearm deaths are waaaaay down and the POS that shot those poor kids is very rare as sad as it is and when 500 million people live in the US, come try and take them away, people like you and the village idiot Bidoofus's garbage backed by Yo'Bama won't do one dammmm thing except make real law abiding people to clean the shelves out of EVERY gun store in the US, wow that worked and all those guns will still be here when we all turn into a George Jetson world, turd!! And it's funny that all the leftist morons that have gone overboard to protect these tards now want to violate the HIPPA law, smoke that, it will never happen and this whole pile of chit will be smeared all of those leftist idiots faces, and that's great then we don't have to look at them...Eat that
Sea2See:
And who, pray tell, would you trust to perform these "mental health evaluations"? And after someone has been (mis)diagnosed as unfit for gun ownership and goes berserk because govt. agents try to confiscate his arsenal, causing untold loss of life, people like you can spread your palms, give us your most earnest and rueful nod, and say:
"See, I told you he was crazy!"
DirtyHarry101, you're about as ignorant a poster as I've seen on here in a while.
Only bro's come to another parolees house with a "gat" to shoot another bro or a piece of meat, and probably Chhhicken. Now it will all be a race thing, watch, well no chit, their black!! And the clue is, don't hang out with Bruthersss...Idiot's, but now less food stamps, on at least 2 ribs cookers, with a ho and rock cocaine in "he" britches...Sounds like a great day to me!! Just another pack of morons...
Well now DirtyHarry101, I am going to guess that being a troll comes natural to you.
http://www.calhouncountyjournal.com/calhoun-city-man-dies-after-thursday-shooting-another-hospitalized/
OOPS, Guess there was a reason that they called him "Honkey"! Next time do some research before you start spewing your racists rants!
it's obvious he didn't repent ,he used as a get out of jail card,he still should not been allowed to by a firearm.
Pardons cleans his record permitting him to purchase guns again.
Harris, whose gun was allegedly used in the shootout, was permitted to own a gun because of the 2012 pardon had wiped his record clean of a 2001 felony conviction for selling marijuana.
All inmates find God and become "role models" in their attempt to gt out.
Let us restrict all gun sales. If you have them, keep them. Ban semi-automatic weapons.
Haley Barbour is an ass. It is too bad that he can't be made to pay for his bad judgement, but then politicians are rarely held accountable for doing something stupid.
Maybe the next time Barbour appears on NBC's Meet The Press, David can ask him about this.
Barbour also pardoned a 4th time DUI Driver who then hit & killed a teenage girl in MS--also, Mike Huckabee pardoned a convicted felon while Gov. of Arkansas who ended up killing the 4 police officers in Seattle in 2009. These guys are clueless!!
"These were decisions based on repentance, rehabilitation, and redemption, leading to forgiveness" These people are in prison for a reason. They were given all their rights at trial. These issues were considered by a Judge at time of sentencing and argued by attorneys. Politics should be kept out of the justice system. They are called criminals for a reason.
And Clinton pardoned 456 people during his presidency. Charges ranged from heavy drug trafficing to bribery, theft of government funds through fraud (1.2 Million), - oh, yeah, one death-row inmate.
They all do it - which doesn't make it right.
Barbour is as dumb as the rest of the so called Republican Leaders.
Not as dumb as the people who voted for a Community Organizer for free stuff at the expense of people who are working. Liberals are the AL Queda of America
Sounds like we need to have a nation wide BQ and get rid of these creeps. Go BARBER.
Commit a crime and when locked up be good and get to go home. How hard is it to be good when you are locked up with free food, Housing and Utilities, Medical and Cable TV. Most homeless people never commited a crime and would love to have that
Wow you are pretty jack @!$%# stupid dude. BTW I'm talking to you, Compromise now, since you are too stupid to understand that.
Do you think Gabby and the Brady Bunch will start demanding more Pardon Control to fight violence? Not likely but you can always hope.
Wow that was so funny while conveniently being assininely hypocritical about Barbour being an old school GOPer.
Who ever said the GOP is always right/