Chris Smith's Gun Record Is Not All It Seems

On Sunday, Chris Smith released a statement in response to the tragic shooting at the Trenton art festival. Included was a call for universal background checks. Unfortunately, Smith’s record reveals he may be less than sincere.

In 2011, Smith voted for HR 822 The National Right To Carry Reciprocity Act, requiring concealed weapons permits from any state, including those with weak or no background checks, to be valid nationwide. He supported the gun lobby over his own constituents by undermining the precautions they have enacted through the legislative process. Bearing a concealed weapon in New Jersey should require abiding by New Jersey’s rules.

I understand that people change their minds. If Smith were to state that his 2011 vote was a mistake, I’d be more inclined to believe him now. Otherwise, it’s hard to reconcile his call for universal background checks with his previous vote to circumvent the background check laws of New Jersey. It seems that Smith is twisting in the political winds, moving right after the Tea Party wave of 2010, and supporting background checks now in the wake of renewed public pressure for gun control. There’s no telling when Smith will change his mind again.

Josh Welle, running to replace Smith, supports universal background checks, preventing domestic abusers from having firearms, banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and opposes concealed carry reciprocity. These are commons sense measures with broad support. It’s time we had a representative who put the safety of New Jersey residents first.