Yesterday, the New Jersey Senate passed multiple dangerous gun control bills. Some of these bills will now go to the Governor for his consideration, while others will be returned to the Assembly for concurrence with Senate amendments. Unfortunately, the state Senate failed to use their opportunity this session to instead make easy fixes to longstanding issues that have plagued law-abiding gun owners in the Garden State. Among the fixes still desperately needed are clarification of current law to prevent law-abiding gun owners from being turned into criminals over minor technical transportation violations, enforcement of the thirty-day permit issuance deadline already required by law but ignored by permitting authorities, and extension of handgun permits to one year.
The following anti-gun bills have been sent to the Assembly where action could likely occur on them in the next couple weeks. NRA-ILA will continue to update you on their status. In the meantime, please contact your state Assemblymen in opposition to the following bills:
Senate Bill 2723/ Assembly Bill 4182 – Sponsored by state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3), this bill is a compilation of multiple anti-gun bills that have been introduced this session. Among other provisions, this legislation replaces existing FID cards with driver license endorsements or other forms of ID; suspends Second Amendment rights if one does not have proof of firearms training, including for all current handgun owners; imposes a seven-day waiting period for handgun purchases; bans all private sales of firearms; and effectively creates a registry of ammunition purchases and long gun sales.
Senate Bill 2178/ Assembly Bill 2178 – Sponsored by state Senators Raymond Lesniak (D-20) and Barbara Buono (D-18), this bill is a flat-out statewide gun ban on possession of .50 caliber firearms. These firearms are heavy, large, expensive and not misused in crimes, yet anti-gun lawmakers are still seeking to ban them. The current version was amended to make this bill effective immediately upon enactment.
Also, a pro-gun bill was passed in the state Senate yesterday by a unanimous vote and will also return to the Assembly for concurrence. Please contact your state Assemblymen in support of this important measure:
Senate Bill 2552 / Assembly Bill 3788 – Sponsored by state Senator Jeff Van Drew (D-1) and Assemblyman Dave Rible (R-30), this legislation protects individual gun owner information from public disclosure.
The following anti-gun bills have been sent to Governor Chris Christie (R) and await his action:
Assembly Bill 3687 / Senate Bill 2485 – Sponsored by state Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-22), this bill disqualifies any person on the federal Terrorist Watchlist from obtaining a firearms identification card or a permit to purchase a handgun. This bill results in suspension of Second Amendment rights based on a secret government list – which is known to be riddled with errors without providing any right to due process.
Assembly Bill 3717 / Senate Bill 2492 – Sponsored by Assemblyman Pamela Lampitt (D-6), this bill requires submission of mental health records to NICS – without stated or expressed requirement of due process.
Senate Bill 2467 / Senate Bill 2471 / Assembly Bill 3668 – Sponsored by state Senator Nia Gill (D-34) and Assemblyman Mila Jasey (D-27), this legislation prohibits investment of state pension funds in companies tied to manufacturers, importers or sellers of so-called "assault” firearms for civilian use. Committee amendments removing importers and sellers, which was a response to the legislators hearing testimony on this issue, were restored on May 13 by the full Senate.
Please contact your state Assemblymen in opposition to the anti-gun bills above, and in support of Senate Bill 2552/Assembly Bill 3788. Your NRA-ILA will continue to update you on the status of these bills as they move through the Assembly.
Contact information for your state legislators can be found by clicking here.
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