N.J. Assembly passes 22 gun laws
TRENTON – The New Jersey General Assembly on Thursday approved 22 gun violence prevention bills focusing on reforming gun and ammunition sales, improving mental health services, enhancing gun safety, combating illegal gun trafficking, boosting school security and preventing gang violence.
“These measures are a blend of temperance and temerity - the temperance necessary to address this issue pragmatically without trampling on Second Amendment rights, and the temerity to tackle this issue once and for all,” said Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic). “For those who argue that our efforts are an emotional response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I don't entirely disagree. To not be driven by emotion to address the incomprehensible slaying of 20 innocent children would be baffling. This is not, however, a knee-jerk response. The time to get serious about protecting our communities from gun violence is long overdue. The proposals we have approved are common sense.”
“We know of the mass tragedies in Newtown and Aurora, in Tucson and in Blacksburg, but we recognize that gun violence takes the life of a New Jerseyan almost every day, as in 2011, 269 New Jerseyans were killed by guns -- a 9 percent increase from the previous year,” said Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington). “We must take notice when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention project that gun deaths are expected to exceed motor vehicle fatalities for the first time by 2015. Whether it is a movie theater in Colorado, a college campus in Virginia or a street corner in New Jersey, enough is enough. That is why the New Jersey General Assembly has approved a comprehensive package of common-sense bills to prevent gun violence.”
Details on each bill are available at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillsByNumber.asp.
ASSEMBLY BILLS PASSED:
A-588 Aca
Prohibits possession of ammunition capable of penetrating body armor.
A-1116
Establishes 180 day prohibition on purchase of handgun for certain individuals who fail to report loss or theft of firearm.
A-1329 Aca
Reduces maximum capacity of ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.
A-1387 Aca
Permits municipalities to establish weapons free zones around schools and public facilities.
A-1683 Aca
Criminalizes purchase or possession of firearms ammunition by persons convicted of certain crimes.
A-2692 Aa
"Christopher's Law;" provides court with option of ordering juveniles adjudicated delinquent to receive interactive instruction in preventing gang involvement and gang and youth violence.
A-3510
Requires proof of firearms safety training as a condition for issuance of firearms purchaser ID cards and permits to purchase handguns.
A-3583/1613 AcsAa
Creates task force to explore areas to improve school safety.
A-3645/3646/3666 /3750 Acs
Requires ammunition sales and transfers be conducted as face-to-face transactions.
A-3659 Aa
Revises definition of destructive device to include certain weapons of 50 caliber or greater.
A-3668
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in companies manufacturing, importing, and selling assault firearms for civilian use.
A-3687
Disqualifies person named on federal Terrorist Watchlist from obtaining firearms identification card or permit to purchase handgun.
A-3717
Requires submission of certain mental health records to National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
A-3748 Aa
Requires background check for private gun sales.
A-3754 Aca
Requires firearms seizure when mental health professional determines patient poses threat of harm to self or others.
A-3772
Requires that firearms purchaser identification cards display picture; mandates that firearms purchaser identification cards be renewed every five years.
A-3788
Codifies regulation exempting firearms records from State's open public records law; abolishes common law right of access to these records.
A-3796 Aa
Provides 90-day window for persons to dispose of certain unlawfully possessed firearms.
A-3797 Aca
Requires law enforcement to report certain firearms information to interjurisdictional electronic databases including the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network.
ACR-180 Acs
Urges President and Congress of United States to enact legislation enforcing stricter firearms control measures.
AR-143 AcaAa
Expresses support for Attorney General's gun buyback program.
AR-144
Urges Governor Christie's Administration not to apply for annual exemption from requirements of federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.