New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signs gun-control measures

Friday, August 09, 2013

Tags:

new jersey politics, chris christie, gun control, politics & elections

Eyewitness News

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie signed 10 gun-related bills into law Thursday, including a measure disqualifying people on the federal terrorist watch list from being able to buy guns.

In a statement accompanying his signature, the Republican governor said he signed the measure because federal authorities take care to ensure the list's accuracy. Some conservatives expressed concern that citizens will be put on the watch list mistakenly.

"I believe that federal elected officials must continue to ensure that federal law enforcement and intelligence gathering entities constantly strive to improve the levels of accuracy and reliability in terrorist screening databases," Christie wrote. "I urge Congress to take steps to ensure that law-abiding American citizens are never swept into these databases."

Another bill requires that certain mental health records be sent to the instant background check system, while a third increases penalties for certain gun-trafficking crimes.

Christie said the measures will strengthen the state's already tough gun laws and help keep communities safe.

Gun control advocate Bryan Miller said that the new laws are a step in the right direction, but that more needs to be done. He urged Christie to sign other gun-control bills on his desk, like one banning sales of .50-caliber rifles and another modernizing the state's gun buying system.

He said the bill preserves Second Amendment rights, while requiring gun buyers and owners to undergo firearms safety training.

"This bill has provisions that will make it far less likely that any New Jersey family will suffer the devastating loss of a child due to careless gun storage, as happened recently in Toms River," he said, referring to the fatal shooting of a 6-year-old by a 4-year-old neighbor who had access to unsecured guns at home.