(TRENTON) – Assembly Democrats Mila M. Jasey, John McKeon, Joseph Cryan and Gordon Johnson on Monday said Gov. Chris Christie’s Friday veto of legislation they sponsored simply serves to benefit one group – companies that manufacture, import or sell assault firearms for civilian use.
Christie vetoed legislation (A-3668) that was part of Assembly Democratic gun violence prevention efforts. The bill would have prohibited New Jersey from investing any pension or annuity fund under the management of the Department of the Treasury in companies that manufacture, import or sell assault firearms for civilian use.
New Jersey has passed similar laws in regards to companies that invested in South Africa during apartheid and, more recently, Iran.
“New Jersey has taken strong stands against governments that violate basic human rights, and now was the time to do the same against companies that put assault firearms onto our streets, putting us all at risk,” said Jasey (D-Essex/Morris). “We can’t stop the manufacture or sale of these assault weapons across the nation, but we could have made it more difficult for these companies to do so.”
“New Jersey residents have long supported our state’s assault weapons ban, so the next logical step was to ensure their money was not going toward the manufacture and sale of these weapons that have no business being on our streets,” said McKeon (D-Essex/Morris). “New Jersey has no reason to support the manufacture and sale of assault weapons, but Gov. Christie sadly thinks otherwise.”
“We may not be able to stop the manufacture, import or sale of assault firearms for civilian use, but we could certainly have tied off some of the money that goes toward them,” said Cryan (D-Union). “New Jersey has long been a leader in the fight against assault weapons, and this would have been another step in that direction and the right thing to do. It could have saved lives, but Gov. Christie is more interested in helping them continue putting assault weapons on our streets.”
“New Jersey has no business supporting the manufacture, sale or import of assault weapons for civilians,” said Johnson (D-Bergen). “These weapons do not belong on our streets and have been used for horrific crimes. They are undeserving of our investment.”
