(TRENTON) – Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald has reintroduced his legislation to limit gun magazine capacity to ten rounds – a promise he made when he was sworn into office again earlier this month.
“Our nation is in the midst of a gun violence epidemic,” said Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington). “Now, as we enter a new term with a new governor, we have a real chance to pursue legislation to reduce the number of deaths by gun violence and protect our neighborhoods.”
Greenwald has long been an advocate for gun safety and met with the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2013 after their devastating losses. That year he introduced many gun safety bills, including lowering gun magazine capacity, enhancing penalties for gun trafficking offenses and establishing a regulatory system for the sale of ammunition. They were vetoed by then-Gov. Chris Christie.
He reintroduced the bill (A-2761) for this new legislative session on Monday.
The bill bans firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Magazines capable of holding up to 15 rounds of ammunition currently are legal in New Jersey.
The bill also designates a semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine capacity exceeding 10 rounds as a prohibited assault firearm.
The bill makes its provisions effective immediately, but allows for a 180-day grace period to transfer, render inoperable, or voluntarily surrender a semi-automatic rifle or magazine that will be unlawful under the bill.
“Meeting the families of Sandy Hook was one of the most moving experiences of my 22 years of public service,” Greenwald said. “For these families, the single most important piece of legislation we could fight for is lowering magazine capacity. I refuse to let these families down, to look them in the eyes and tell them we are powerless – that their loved ones were a tragic, but necessary, loss. No loss to gun violence is ever necessary.”
Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed an executive order to repeal Christie-era regulation that expanded concealed carry gun regulations, something the Majority Leader has been fighting since their introduction.
“Gun violence is not about statistics or abstract arguments,” Greenwald said. “It is about countless lives that have needlessly been cut short, because far too many public policy-makers have failed to find the courage to act. We can do more. We must do more.”
