Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera – the lead sponsor of legislation to protect domestic violence victims from gun violence – released the following statement Tuesday on Gov. Christie’s conditional veto of the measure:
“This is yet another unfortunate example among many we’ve seen where the governor let a bill languish for months while he was busy campaigning and now he comes back with changes at the eleventh hour that will only further delay protections for domestic violence victims.
“While we will certainly be reviewing the governor’s recommendations, he should have signed this bill post haste because now he has only further delayed these critical protections.
“For victims and their children, domestic violence turns a chance to live the American Dream into a horrific nightmare. I know, because I’ve lived that nightmare. Too many domestic violence victims are killed at the hands of abusers who have easy access to firearms, before they ever have a chance to get out. This legislation would have changed all that.
“It does give me pause that part of the governor’s solution to gun violence is to put more guns in people’s hands. That’s why we will be reviewing his recommendations carefully to make sure they align with our goals for the bill,” said Mosquera (D-Gloucester/Camden).
The main provisions of Mosquera’s bill (A-4218) would:
· Require domestic abusers to surrender their firearms while a domestic violence restraining order is in effect, or when they are convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense;
· Require an abuser’s firearms purchaser identification cards and permits to purchase a handgun to be suspended during domestic violence restraining orders;
· Require an abuser’s firearms purchaser identification cards and permits to purchase a handgun to be revoked if the individual is convicted of a domestic violence crime or offense; and
· Require cross-referencing of records to assist in determining whether an alleged domestic abuser owns a firearm in order to assist law enforcement’s ability to ensure that an abuser does not have access to firearms.
Among the changes proposed by Christie is a provision to make it quicker and easier for domestic violence victims to purchase a gun.