(A 4348), Introduced Yesterday in the New Jersey Legislature, Will Keep Guns Out of the Hands of Felons, Domestic Abusers, and Other Dangerous People
The New Jersey chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauds the introduction of Representatives Carmelo Garcia and Gabriela Mosquera’s A 4348, that will close a dangerous loophole in current New Jersey law that makes it too easy for felons, domestic abusers, and other dangerous people to buy rifles and shotguns. Under current law, potentially dangerous people can use a decades-old permit to buy a rifle or shotgun—even if they have recently committed a crime.
A 4348 will fix a gap in current law by requiring point-of-sale background checks before every shotgun and rifle transfer, with reasonable exceptions, such as transfers among family members, or for hunting, target practice, or self-defense.
“As New Jersey moms who are dedicated to keeping our children safe from gun violence, we applaud Representatives Carmelo Garcia and Gabriela Mosquera for introducing this common-sense, life-saving background check bill in the New Jersey Legislature,” said Brett Sabo, volunteer with the New Jersey chapter of Moms Demand Action. “The bill fixes a loophole in current New Jersey law that lets felons, domestic abusers, and other dangerous people get their hands on rifles and shotguns. It’s not going to involve huge hurdles for responsible gun owners either—over 99 percent of New Jersey residents live within 10 miles of a licensed gun dealer, where they can get a simple background check and buy a rifle or shotgun from a private seller. We hope the New Jersey Legislature will move quickly to pass this straightforward, common-sense measure that will keep New Jersey women, families, and communities safe from gun violence.”
Moms, survivors, and other advocates met with New Jersey lawmakers this week to discuss the importance of the bill and to highlight the significant role rifles and shotguns play in intimate partner homicide in New Jersey and across the country. Joining the office visits were Harry and Karen Pryde, New Jersey residents whose daughter Julia was murdered in the Virginia Tech shooting along with 31 of her classmates and professors. The shooter had been adjudicated mentally ill and was prohibited from buying firearms.
“Karen and I understand all too well the importance of having a complete background check system in place,” said Harry Pryde. “New Jersey should join the ranks of other gun sense leading states like New York and Connecticut to protect New Jersey women and families—we urge our lawmakers to fix this lethal loophole in current New Jersey law.”
Additional information on the role rifles and shotguns play in intimate partner homicide in New Jersey:
- Nearly one in six domestic violence gun murders in the US is committed with a rifle or shotgun.
- In New Jersey, more than three in ten people killed with rifles or shotguns are women. Among all New Jersey victims of gun homicide, only one in ten is a woman.
- Intimate partner homicides make up more than half of all rifle and shotgun murders of New Jersey women.
About Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million supporters and more than 40,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and help save lives. At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of American mothers founded the day after the Sandy Hook tragedy. Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of American mothers fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million members and more than 40,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand