It’s important that NRA members and gun owners continue contacting legislators as sweeping anti-gun bills inch closer to final passage in Trenton. Yesterday, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee gave approval to a gun bill that was previously held from a prior committee agenda. S.2259 by Sen. Richard Codey (D) creates extreme risk protection orders whereby firearms can be seized and constitutional rights suspended with little to no due process. The bill fails to penalize those who fabricate accusations, and it does nothing to improve public safety. Even with amendments, this legislation is fraught with problems and serious due process concerns.
Yesterday’s action signals that the full Senate is getting close to moving a package of bills already adopted by the Assembly. Once the legislation has cleared both chambers, only the signature of anti-gun Gov. Phil Murphy is needed before the bills become law. This issue is too important to stay silent. Even if you’ve left a message already, please continue contacting Senators. The NRA state association, ANJRPC, has also been waging a daily grassroots campaign as well, and the strong voice of New Jersey gun owners hasn’t gone unnoticed. We should continue to amplify our message.
As previously reported, the package of anti-gun bills is headlined by S.102 by Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D), which reduces the minimum magazine capacity restriction from 15 to 10 rounds. The 15-round limit has had no demonstrated effectiveness on improving public safety and it puts law-abiding gun owners at a definite disadvantage in self-defense situations. Criminals do not follow magazine capacity restrictions. A weak grandfathering provision has been adopted whereby gun owners can keep their magazines if they are permanently blocked and the firearm is registered.
We are anticipating that these bills could be up for final consideration in the Senate as early as Thursday, June 7. It’s imperative that you continue to voice opposition to these bills. Please contact your Senator today and respectfully ask that these bills be defeated!