(TRENTON) – Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Essex) released the following statement on Tuesday following a press conference with families of those killed in the Newtown shooting in support of Assembly Democratic gun violence prevention legislation:
“I would like to thank the families who traveled to our state capital today to show their support for legislation (A-1329) that I and several of my colleagues sponsored to ban the sale of high-capacity magazines in New Jersey. Large capacity magazines were used in the mass shootings in Arizona, Columbine, Virginia Tech and Newtown to devastating effect. They serve no other purpose but to allow a shooter to shoot longer without having to reload. When innocent children are the targets, something has to change. Gun prevention proposals that do not include a ban on what seems to be the magazine of choice for mass murderers are like security dogs with no teeth. I am not under any false pretense that this ban alone will end all gun violence, but it will help. It may not prevent a deranged individual set on hurting others, but it limits the extent of damage and pain they can inflict. The other option is to do nothing, and I don’t know anyone who would bet their life or that of their child on that option.”