Bills to Be Heard In the Senate Budget Committee Next Week
The Statehouse in Trenton was bustling this week with gun owners who turned out to oppose yet another round of gun control during a two-day hearing. On Tuesday and Thursday, the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee heard testimony on the firearm bills previously reported here. The NRA-ILA New Jersey lobbyist began the testimony that included a long list of opponents and stretched over two days. He started off the packed hearing by arguing that New Jersey’s laws are already the second toughest in the country and this latest package of bills would do nothing to address violent crime in the state. This committee passed several of the measures and they will be heard in the New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee next Thursday, May 9 as that committee considers multiple pieces of anti-gun legislation.
It is critical that you contact state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3) and your state Senator IMMEDIATELY. Respectfully urge them to oppose any anti-gun legislation that only punishes law-abiding gun owners and ask them to instead support real solutions to violent crime and mental health issues.
Although several bills passed in committee this week, a couple of the more far-reaching bills have been referred to the Senate Budget Committee for a hearing on May 9. It is important that you call and e-mail your state Senator, and ask them to oppose the following two bills:
Senate Bill 2178/Assembly Bill 3659 – Sponsored by state Senators Raymond Lesniak (D-20) and Barbara Buono (D-18), SB 2178 revises the definition of destructive device to include certain weapons of .50 caliber or greater.
Senate Bill 2723 – Sponsored by state Senate president Stephen Sweeney (D-3) and Senators Donald Norcross (D-5) and Loretta Weinberg (D-37), SB 2723 revises statutes concerning firearms purchaser identification cards and handgun purchase permits; makes handgun purchase permit valid for four years.
Some pro-gun bills are also pending before the state Senate, so also request that your state Senator support these important measures:
Senate Bill 2552– Sponsored by state Senator Jeff Van Drew (D-1), SB 2552 protects individual gun owner information from public disclosure.
Senate Bill 2721 - Also sponsored by Senator Van Drew, SB 2721 clarifies definition of reasonably necessary deviation when legally transporting firearms in a motor vehicle.
Senate Bill 2735 – Also sponsored by Senator Van Drew, SB 2735 excludes .22 caliber tubular magazines from “large capacity ammunition magazine” definition. New Jersey is the only state in the nation to ban this commonly owned “Boy Scout” gun such as the Marlin Model 60.
There are many gun bills now before the state Legislature. Please remember that the committee agenda can change and bill language can be amended. We will continue to update our members as we work to defeat anti-Second Amendment legislation and advocate for bills which protect gun owners.
It is important that you contact your state legislators and respectfully urge them to oppose more gun control laws which only further punish New Jersey gun owners. New Jersey has some of the toughest firearm laws on the books and state legislators are now attempting to make it even harder for law-abiding citizens to express a constitutionally protected right to bear arms. Do not let them legislate away your rights without hearing from you.
Please contact state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3) AND your own state Senator to respectfully urge them to oppose any anti-gun legislation that would only punish law-abiding gun owners and to instead support real solutions to address violent crime and mental health issues.
Contact information for your state Senator can be found here.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3)
(856) 251-9801 office
(856) 251-9752 fax
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