New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald on Thursday commended Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy for signing a sweeping new anti-gun violence bill into law:
“I applaud Governor Malloy for his leadership in signing into law legislation to prevent gun violence in Connecticut. Connecticut’s action highlights the need to act here in New Jersey to close dangerous gaps in our current gun laws.
“Under current New Jersey law, convicted criminals can easily obtain massive caches of ammunition, including high-capacity magazines and armor-piercing bullets, for use in murders, drug trafficking and gang violence. People on the Terrorist Watch List can easily obtain weapons to commit terrorist acts. People who are dangerously mentally ill can easily purchase weapons to commit gun violence by slipping through loopholes in our mental health background checks.
“In 2011, 269 people in New Jersey lost their lives due to gun violence. The time to get serious about preventing gun violence in New Jersey is long overdue. The Assembly-approved package of legislation will close these dangerous gaps in our current laws–respecting the 2nd amendment rights of lawful owners while promoting safety in our communities,” said Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington).