New Jersey Democrats unveiled a new major gun safety initiative requiring tougher background checks and improve concealed-carry laws within the state.
Announced by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) and State Senate President Nick Scutari (D-22) Oct. 13, the legislative package would prohibit permit holders from carrying handguns in public areas including government buildings, sporting arenas, and bars.
Coughlin stated the bill would make New Jersey safer following the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision earlier this year.
Common-Sense Gun Reform
“By ensuring that individuals can only obtain a concealed carry permit after extensive review and appropriate training, we are standing up for victims of gun violence and helping to prevent future tragedies while abiding by the Court’s decision,” he said.
Scutari positioned the bill as another way the state continued to lead the nation on the gun safety issue, arguing it would “help prevent gun violence with common-sense standards to require training, promote gun safety and prevent firearms from being carried into sensitive locations.”
New Limits on Concealed-Carry
Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17), a recreational hunter and a sponsor of the legislation, said commonsense gun reform being proposed wouldn’t stop sportsmen from engaging in family traditions like hunting.
“There is nothing at odds with promoting responsible gun ownership, gun safety, gun education, and gun training while upholding the Second Amendment. I am proud to have authored this legislation that will strike a balance between promoting public safety and allowing people to exercise their Constitutional rights,” Danielsen said.
Those currently holding a concealed-carry permit would be barred from carrying handguns in a broad variety of public arenas, including schools, polling places, restaurants, theaters, sporting arenas, parks, airports, casinos, childcare facilities, and government buildings.
Safety Training
Additionally, private property owners not included in the above categories would need to opt into allowing permittees to carry on their premises.
Permittees would be required to undergo gun safety training, including a gun range qualification. New insurance requirements would be imposed on handgun ownership to ensure victims of accidental discharge are appropriately protected.
The legislation would make it more difficult to obtain a concealed-carry permit by increasing the number of non-family members who must vouch for applicants. Additionally, new disqualifications for the permit process would be added, including “character of temperament” and past violations of restraining orders.
Building on Prior Work
To pay for the increased background checks, fees would be increased across the board, according to the legislators. Increased fees would also help fund the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO).
The New Jersey legislature had passed other common-sense gun laws in recent years, including ones to regulate ammunition and increase penalties for irresponsible gun dealers and manufacturers.
The Democrats accused Republicans in New Jersey of introducing at least four bills to roll back safety protections since the Bruen decision in June, and 33 that would increase the number of guns in New Jersey communities.
None of these laws or rules will do anything to reduce gun related violence.
All of them are ill conceived and doomed to failure
The paradigm of trying to control and limit and regulate the devices themselves ( the firearms) is a totally flawed, illogical and irrational policy that is doomed to fail as it has failed everywhere and anytime it’s been tried
During alcohol prohibition, violence and corruption only increased and people drank illicitly.
Criminals and those intent on harm will always be able to obtain firearms.
This latest round of stupid proposals is only meant to punish the Democrats political enemies. And serve an ideological agenda
None of it is based in fact and none of it is motivated by a true concern for victims of gun violence.
In all the worst places in New Jersey were people are constantly victimized by criminals with guns, Democrats and progressives have held political power for decades.
Camden , trenton , newark … All the worst places in New Jersey all the most violent poorest places have been dominated for decades by democratic progressive politicians. All these places have had very restrictive gun laws. And that specifically why there’s so much crime in these place.
If Democrats actually cared about gun violence they would encourage law-abiding citizens in these violent places to obtain concealed carry permits
The more guns there are in private hands the less crime there is.