Essex County Official Supports NJ Gun Bill: 'Can’t Shrink From Fight'

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The chair of the Essex County Board of Commissioners Anti-Gun Violence Committee is applauding the New Jersey Senate’s passage of a controversial gun control proposal, which is now headed to the desk of Gov. Phil Murphy.

The New Jersey State Senate approved legislation Monday aimed at strengthening firearm laws in the state -with new limits on where firearms can be carried and who can access them. The proposed law comes on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to loosen federal regulations earlier this year.

S3214/A-4769, approved in a 21-16 Senate vote Monday, would bar people from carrying firearms around restaurants, government buildings, schools, universities, senior centers, childcare facilities, parks/recreational spaces, areas where large groups congregate and places where “intoxicating substances are sold,” to name a few. Read More: Controversial NJ Firearms Bill Passes Senate, Murphy Slated To Sign

Gun rights advocates have heavily criticized the proposed law, with one group calling the bill a “thinly-veiled attempt” to circumvent the Supreme Court’s ruling and “utterly destroy” the right to carry in the Garden State.

The NRA Institute for Legislative Action has also blasted the proposed law.

“Incredibly, this bill is so deeply flawed that all of this time and effort has been spent in vain,” the group wrote. “Anti-gun majority Democrats are simply in denial that the United States Supreme Court affirmed the right to carry. The court spoke resolutely and were unambiguous.”

But the news got a big thumbs up from Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, who chairs the county’s new anti-gun violence committee, which was formed last summer. Read More: Essex County Forming New 'Anti-Gun Violence Committee'

According to Gill:

“As chairman of the Essex County Board of Commissioners Anti-Gun Violence Committee, I want to commend the New Jersey lawmakers who courageously voted for legislation that will help New Jersey protect its citizens from the U. S. Supreme Court’s dangerous and irresponsible ruling expanding the concealed carrying of firearms. I want to equally commend Gov. Phil Murphy’s resolve to sign this legislation. At a time when gun violence is the leading cause of death of American children, we cannot shrink from this fight or hide behind the fear that the fight is too difficult. We must be prepared and resolved to fight even harder. The primary responsibility of an elected official, at all levels of government, is to protect the safety of our constituents. While mass shootings drive the discussion about gun safety, the majority of gun deaths result simply from a gun being present – domestic violence situations, suicides, improperly stored guns falling into the hands of children, everyday disputes between neighbors or strangers. New Jersey has the third lowest rate of gun violence in the country because we have some of the most effective gun safety measures in place. We must keep it that way. Thank you to the sponsors of this legislation: Assm. Joe Danielsen; Assm. Louis D. Greenwald, Majority Leader; Assmw. Mila M. Jasey; Assm. John F. McKeon; Assmw. Ellen J. Park; Assmw. Annette Chaparro; Senate President Nicholas P. Scutari, Sen. Linda R. Greenstein; Co-sponsor, Sen. Gordon M. Johnson.”

Gill isn’t the only New Jersey Democrat from Essex County to support the bill.

Assemblywoman Mila Jasey and Assemblyman John McKeon – both primary sponsors of the bill from the state’s 27th district (Essex, Passaic counties) – have said it’s a big win for New Jersey.

After the bill passed an Assembly vote in November, Jasey said that “responsible” concealed carry laws have been in full force and effect in New Jersey for decades.

“This legislation restores responsible and reasonable safeguards that will protect our communities, our schools, houses of worship, and other public places,” Jasey added.

• See related article: 2 Essex County Democrats Cheer As NJ Gun Control Bill Advances

This article contains reporting from Josh Bakan, Patch staff

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