New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy stood behind his pre-election campaign promises on Tuesday at a roundtable discussion with gun control advocates and fellow Democrat, Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald. (Photo: New Jersey Governorâs office)
Democrat Phil Murphy, New Jerseyâs new governor, made it clear this week he is onboard with turning a number of gun control proposals into the Garden Stateâs newest gun control laws.
Murphy, elected on a platform that included âgetting toughâ on guns, gathered with like-minded advocates at the Betty and Milton Katz Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill to talk about âcombatting gun violenceâ through a series of bills pending in the legislature to expand background checks, make it harder to get a carry permit and ban a variety of ammunition, guns and devices. Murphy acknowledged that the proposals likely would have been rejected by former Gov. Chris Christie.
âTogether, we can pass gun safety laws that have been vetoed in the past and reclaim our place as a state that acts on facts and common sense,â Murphy said in a statement. âWe must again become a state that values the safety of our residents and communities over the misguided priorities of the gun lobby.â
Among the legislative package supported by Murphy is A2757, which would require background checks on private gun sales; A2758, which curbs past moves by Christie to make it easier to get a carry permit; A2759, to ban âarmor-piercingâ ammunition; A2760, to ban .50-caliber rifles; and A2761 to limit gun magazine capacity to 10 rounds.
The agenda is backed by anti-gun advocates including Ceasefire NJ, the Brady Campaign, Giffords and Moms Demand Action, members of which were on-hand for the event.
Gun rights groups, to include the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs and the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, who have warned against Murphyâs move into the Governorâs office, say the âstorm is hereâ in the push by opponents for more regulation on firearms in the state. Scott Bach, ANJRPCâs executive director, said the fact the roundtable event did not include representation from pro-gun groups, showed Murphy already has his mind made up.
âHow can they call it a âround tableâ when there was no one to speak for NJâs one million law-abiding gun owners,â said Bach. âThey always talk about wanting to have a âconversationâ about gun issues â this was more like a monologue. They need to focus on severely punishing violent gun criminals instead of banning tools needed by honest citizens to defend themselves.â