Gun Control Group To Rally At Rep. Garrett's Office Wednesday

GLEN ROCK, N.J. — Residents and officials will demand stricter gun laws at a rally at Rep. Scott Garrett’s Glen Rock office Wednesday at noon, Mayor Bruce Packer announced.

Packer said “we need to close the loopholes in the current background check laws” and “tighten the laws on guns” given the worst mass shooting in United States history that occurred in Orlando this week; 49 people died and another 53 were wounded.

The Bergen County Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence is organizing the rally.

Packer noted that while New Jersey has tougher gun laws than “most states, one can still purchase a .50-caliber rifle, which can hit a target accurately from 1,000 to 2,000 yards.

The guns used in the Orlando shooting were a .223-caliber AR-type rifle and a .9mm semiautomatic pistol, officials have said.

Guns traced in #Orlando shooting: .223 caliber AR type rifle and 9mm semiautomatic pistol. Similar to those pictured pic.twitter.com/Ao5pcLtwBg
— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) June 12, 2016

“These rifles are common among terrorists, drug traffickers, and those who commit violent crimes,” Packer said. “Is it really necessary to have such guns legally available?”

Frustrated Democrats chanted “where’s the bill, where’s the bill” on the House floor Monday in the Capitol Building as they tried to demand action from the Republican majority on gun control legislation. Garrett is a seven-term Republican. 

Garrett represents New Jersey's 5th Congressional District. It is made up of municipalities in Bergen, Sussex, Passaic, and Warren counties. In Bergen, the municipalities include: Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hillsdale, Mahwah, New Milford, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Teaneck, Washington Township, Westwood, and Wyckoff.

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