Assembly Deputy Speaker Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen), a former Bergen County sheriff, issued the following statement on Thursday after the Senate voted to override Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of commonsense legislation (S-2360/A-3593) he sponsored to make it more difficult for certain individuals with a documented history of mental illness to purchase firearms:
“Today’s Senate override is an example of what happens when legislators from both sides of the aisle come together to act in the best interest of the people of New Jersey.
“Law enforcement officers have a familiarity with their communities that puts them in a unique position to be most aware of incidents that may indicate that an individual is unfit to be a responsible gun owner. The Senate Republicans who stood up and supported this override understand, as the governor himself also has stated, that mental health must be an integral component of the effort to reduce gun violence.
“I look forward to talking with Speaker Prieto and working with my colleagues to ensure that the Assembly also votes to override this veto so that this bill becomes law.”