Bellmawr, NJ Gym Followup: "A Different Reality"

Via the New York Post:

A New Jersey gym opened for a second day in defiance of executive orders during the coronavirus pandemic — despite Gov. Phil Murphy’s stern warning of “a different reality” to anyone who shows up there Tuesday.

. . . The gym, which was shuttered since mid-March, re-opened for the first time Monday, as the owners called the forced closure a violation of citizens’ constitutional rights.

Both owners were issued summonses and clients were given a warning.

A New Jersey attorney gives his opinion on the case below;

The news article continues,

But Murphy suggested during his Monday briefing that the state might have to step in if the gym’s defiance continues.

“I’m not concerned it will spiral out of control, and we will take action,” Murphy said. “If you show up at that gym again tomorrow, there’s going to be a different reality than showing up today. These aren’t just words. We’ve got to enforce this, but I also don’t want to start World War III.”

This is the sort of thing that the Nazi colonels used to say in Humphrey Bogart movies, so it's strange that Gov Murphy would harken back to that sort of image.

So far, I'm waiting for what "a different reality" will amount to in Bellmawr, NJ, but it seems to me that pretty much anything the governor does will go viral on the web. "Hey, Throckmorton, give me a plan for an action that imposes a different reality but doesn't start World War III!"

Well, there was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, for one thing. Maybe the governor could study that one.

These politicians are not smart. Something's wrong.

UPDATE: The gym has a Gofundme page to raise money for its legal defense that's doing quite well, apparently. I'm still waiting for the different reality.

UPDATE: CBS Philadelphia reports an individual was arrested leaving the gym, but no other information is available. There is video of the arrest at the site. A New Jersey attorney gives his opinion on the case below:

UPDATE: The news story linked above was updated, noting others in the gym received summonses (presumably for something like disorderly conduct short of a misdemeanor) and added:

It is not clear if the county prosecutor’s office will follow through with these summonses. However, lawyers for the gym say they’ve offered to represent anyone who was issued a fine.

So far, the gym has raised over $25,000 for legal fees.