New Jersey Assembly Democrats:***WEDNESDAY HEARING SET*** N.J. Assembly Democrats Unveil Sweeping Gun Violence Prevention Package

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***WEDNESDAY HEARING SET*** N.J. Assembly Democrats Unveil Sweeping Gun Violence Prevention Package

More than 20 Bills Focus on Weapons & Ammunition Sales, Mental Health, Enhanced Gun Safety, Combating Illegal Gun Trafficking & Boosting School Safety
(TRENTON) -- New Jersey Assembly Democrats on Friday unveiled a sweeping new gun violence prevention package to make New Jersey safer by reforming weapons and ammunition sales, improving mental health services, enhancing gun safety, combating illegal gun trafficking and finding ways to boost school security.

The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday to consider 24 bills.

The hearing can be streamed live over the Internet here.

The measures would then be slated to get full Assembly consideration during a Feb. 21 voting session. Among other things, the bills would:
  • Reduce maximum capacity of ammunition magazines to 10 rounds;
  • Revise definition of destructive device to include weapons of .50-caliber or greater;
  • Require ammunition sales and transfers be conducted as face-to-face transactions;
  • Disqualify person named on federal Terrorist Watchlist from obtaining firearms identification card or permit to purchase handgun;
  • Require firearms seizure when mental health professional determines patient poses threat of harm to self or others;
  • Require proof of firearms safety training as a condition for issuance of firearms purchaser ID cards and permits to purchase handguns; and
  • Prohibit investment by state of pension and annuity funds in companies manufacturing, importing and selling assault firearms for civilian use.
"Whether it's the streets of our New Jersey communities, a movie theater in Colorado or an elementary school in Connecticut, enough is enough is enough," said Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic). "No more talk. It's time for action. The Assembly will show real leadership and do everything it can to better protect New Jersey residents by advancing a common sense plan to combat this scourge of gun violence that has touched us all so deeply."

"As a father, I was horrified and heartbroken by the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, but it shouldn't take a horrific tragedy like Newtown to open our eyes to gun violence, given the fact that 269 New Jerseyans were killed by senseless violence in 2011 alone - a 9 percent increase from the prior year," said Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington). "The time to get serious about protecting our children, our law enforcement officers and our communities from gun violence is long overdue. Our comprehensive package of legislation promotes common-sense gun safety measures, including keeping dangerous weapons off our streets, cracking down on illegal gun trafficking, addressing New Jersey's mental health crisis and ending the culture of violence."

"The tragedies have become too common and the sadness too deep," said Assembly Law and Public Safety Chairman Charles Mainor (D-Hudson). "We recognize that we cannot put an end to each and every gun crime, but we can responsibly close the gaps and make our laws stronger for the benefit of everyone. With this effort, good common sense will prevail."

The following bills will be heard at 10 a.m. Wednesday by Mainor's committee in Committee Room 11 of the State House Annex in Trenton:

A-588
Spencer/Coutinho/Diegnan/Quijano Prohibits possession of ammunition capable of penetrating body armor.
A-1116
Fuentes/Spencer Establishes 180 day prohibition on purchase of handgun for certain individuals who fail to report loss or theft of firearm.
A-1329
Greenwald/Quijano/Coutinho/Eustace/Johnson Reduces maximum capacity of ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.
A-1387
Wilson/Johnson Permits municipalities to establish weapons free zones around schools and public facilities.
A-1613
Bramnick/Johnson (pending referral) Establishes Educational Security Task Force.
A-3510
Johnson/Vainieri Huttle Requires proof of firearms safety training as a condition for issuance of firearms purchaser ID cards and permits to purchase handguns.
A-3583
Wilson (pending intro and referral) Create taskforce to explore areas to improve school safety.
A-3645
Greenwald/Eustace/Mosquera Requires ammunition sales and transfers be conducted as face-to-face transactions.
A-3646
Greenwald Establishes a regulatory system to govern the sale and transfer of ammunition.
A-3659
Barnes/Johnson Revises definition of destructive device to include certain weapons of 50 caliber or greater.
A-3666
Cryan/O'Donnell/Jasey/Quijano Prohibits mail order, Internet, telephone, and any other anonymous method of ammunition sale or transfer in New Jersey.
A-3668
Jasey/McKeon/Cryan/Johnson/Quijano (pending referral) Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in companies manufacturing, importing, and selling assault firearms for civilian use.
A-3687
Stender/Fuentes (pending referral) Disqualifies person named on federal Terrorist Watchlist from obtaining firearms identification card or permit to purchase handgun.
A-3717
Lampitt/Singleton Requires submission of certain mental health records to National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
A-3748
O'Donnell/Mainor/McKeon Requires background check for private gun sales.
A-3750
Cryan/O'Donnell/Quijano/Mainor/McKeon Establishes regulatory and reporting program for all ammunition sales.
A-3754
Cryan/O'Donnell/Quijano/Mainor/McKeon Requires firearms seizure when mental health professional determines patient poses threat of harm to self or others.
A-3772
Eustace/Wagner/Vainieri Huttle Requires that firearms purchaser identification cards display picture; mandates that firearms purchaser identification cards be renewed every five years.
A-3788
Rible/Dancer Codifies regulation exempting firearms records from State's open public records law; abolishes common law right of access to these records.
A-3796
Mainor Provides 90-day window for persons to dispose of certain unlawfully possessed firearms.
A-3797
Mainor Requires law enforcement to report certain firearms information to interjurisdictional electronic databases including the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network.
ACR-180
Greenwald (pending intro and referral) Urges President and Congress of United States to enact legislation enforcing stricter firearms control measures.
AR-143
Quijano/Cryan/O'Donnell/Mainor/McKeon Expresses support for Attorney General's gun buyback program.
AR-144
Oliver (pending referral) Urges Governor Christie's Administration not to apply for annual exemption from requirements of federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
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