Gov. Phil Murphy Likely To Sign 5 Gun-Control Bills Into Law

Gov. Phil Murphy will likely soon sign at least five bills into law that would be the strictest gun-control measures the state has taken in years (see below).

The governor's words also come just as at least three New Jersey schools staged walkouts on Wednesday to protest gun violence. Read more:

• Walkout At Middletown South High School Over Gun Violence (Video)
• Walkout At Southern Regional High Over Gun Violence (Video)
• Walkout At Eastern Regional High School Over Gun Violence
• 200 Raritan Students Walk Out After Florida Shooting
  

Flanked by other state officials at a press conference this week, Murphy said he plans to push forward legislation that was initially rejected by the Christie administration, such as a measure reducing the capacity of ammunition magazines from 15 to 10 rounds.

Former Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, vetoed a similar measure in 2014 even though supporters of victims from the Sandy Hook school shooting massacre in Connecticut had pushed for it.

Now, following the shooting murders of 17 people at a Florida high school last week, Murphy said on Tuesday: "This time will be different."

"New Jersey will continue to act in the interests of our communities by enacting the common-sense gun safety laws we need," he said.

"The legislature has sent these bills to the governor's desk before, only to see them vetoed," he added. "This time will be different. Unlike the last administration, I will sign them."

The bills were introduced this month by Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, who met with Murphy and representatives from gun safety organizations last week to discuss gun violence in New Jersey and reforms needed to ensure the safety of all New Jerseyans.

“Throughout my time in the Assembly, I’ve worked to keep our communities safe from gun violence. I’ve sponsored legislation to lower magazine capacity to 10 rounds, supported smart gun production and sales in state, worked to create gun buyback programs, and pushed for stronger background checks,” said Greenwald. “I am proud to have an ally like Governor Murphy working hand-in-hand with the legislature as we work to end gun violence and ensure New Jersey is a safe place.”

The bills would do the following:

• A2761 - Reduce maximum capacity of ammunition magazines to 10 rounds; exempts firearms with .22 caliber tubular magazines from 10 round limitation.
• A2758 - Codify regulations defining justifiable need to carry handgun.
• A2757 - Require background check for private gun sales.
• A2759 - Prohibit possession of ammunition capable of penetrating body armor
• A2760 - Revise definition of destructive device to include certain weapons of 50 caliber or greater.

Appearing with Murphy on Tuesday and speaking about gun massacres, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said "enough is enough."

"We’re here to put our words into action," he added. "To ensure that our schools, our communities, our workplaces, remain safe from violence, we’re here to do what is within our collective power to ensure that the unspeakable horror that took place last week in Parkland, Fla. never repeats itself ever again."

Governor's office photo