(Trenton) – Senator Ray Lesniak and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, sponsors of the legislation which created the New Jersey Study Commission on Violence, voiced their disapproval of the Governor’s delay in appointing the final two members of the commission.
The legislation creating the Study Commission on Violence was signed into law on August 8, 2013. Its provisions designated 30 days beyond the effective date for commission members to be appointed and no longer than 30 days after appointments for the first meeting to be held. Currently, the law is over 60 days past the effective date. The final two members have yet to be chosen by the Governor.
“We need a better understanding of the root causes of violence to make our communities, schools and workplaces safer from the tragedies that have taken the lives of so many,” said Lesniak (D-Union). “The Governor needs to make his appointments so that the study commission can get to work.”
“Further inaction puts the state farther away from finding the right solutions to address the growing epidemic of violence,” said Cryan (D- Union). “It’s irresponsible for the administration to place this task on the back burner. The sooner the commission members are appointed the better. Let’s get back on track, appoint the last two members and allow the commission to do its work.”
The commission is charged with the duty to study trends of violence, sources of violence, and the impact of violence on the community. The law directs the commission to develop a method to address the epidemic of violence at the federal and State levels, and to make recommendations for State and Congressional action.
The sponsors proposed the law in response to the rise in incidents of mass violence that have occurred in our nation over the last few years. The legislation cites the shooting incident which occurred in an Old Bridge supermarket last August. Two employees were killed by another employee who, armed with an assault rifle, shotgun and a .40 caliber handgun, opened fire into a crowd.