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17 bills trained on reining in gun violence
Republicans charge legislation will hurt gun lovers, not gangs
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
BY RICK HEPP
Star-Ledger Staff
A sweeping package of 17 bills aimed at quelling gun violence passed the state Assembly yesterday despite protests from Republicans concerned the legislation does more to crack down on gun enthusiasts than gang members.
"Criminal street gangs have become an epidemic across our state," said Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), a sponsor of the package. "They are destroying neighborhoods. They are terrorizing residents. They are engaging in crime, violence, and general depravity. Most alarmingly of all, they are corrupting our children."
The package of bills is intended to prevent gun violence, protect witnesses and bolster police powers. New Jersey is home to more than 17,000 gang members and last year, authorities filed about 1,900 criminal cases involving gun violence.
The proposals range from toughening criminal sentences to establishing gang violence prevention seminars for educators and employment programs for disadvantaged youngsters.
Republicans, however, said bills in the package that stiffen penalties for firearms possession and regulate the sale of ammunition are overly broad and shortsighted. They attempted to amend the controversial bills and have them sent back to committee, but in each case the majority Democrats voted against them.
Republicans said legislation intended to increase prison terms for those convicted of possessing illegal assault weapons or transferring firearms to youths could unwittingly put someone with an unregistered pellet gun or a father who buys a BB gun for his child behind bars.
"This is overkill," said Assemblyman Richard A. Merkt (R-Morris). "I would support this bill if it were directed at gangland activity."
Republicans also objected to a bill that would allow authorities to seize vehicles in which officers discover illegal weapons, and another that would regulate the sale of ammunition. They argued that the brunt of enforcement would fall, not on gang members, but on gun enthusiasts who don't have all the right permits or who buy ammunition out of state.
"My sense is these criminals fail to follow the law," said Assemblyman Guy R. Gregg (R-Morris). "You will be with this legislation creating criminals of people who did nothing wrong."
Merkt also wanted to amend a bill that would have the Attorney General's Office track the history of firearms recovered from crime scenes. Merkt's amendment would require authorities to distinguish between guns purchased legally and those obtained illegally, but it was quashed.
Assemblyman William Payne (D-Essex) said the package of bills is needed as a whole to staunch the rise of gangs in New Jersey.
"The streets are running with blood from teenagers being shot by drive-bys," Payne said. "We need to look at ways to stop guns at their source. We need to stop guns from entering our areas."
Payne's district includes much of Newark, a city where 18 teenagers have been killed by gunfire in the past 18 months.
Watson Coleman said after the voting session that a number of bills could be amended before they reach the state Senate to address concerns raised by Republicans.
"It was our decision to move this legislation forward," she said. "There's going to be cleanup. We'll consider and look at those and perhaps you'll see some of it come out at the Senate."
Larry Farrell of Gun Owners of New Jersey, called the package of bills a "grandstanding" effort by Democrats who want to look tough on crime.
"They're determined to go and do something to make a blurb in the news," Farrell said in a telephone interview. "None of these bills are needed. (Registered gun owners) just have more hurdles to jump through to exercise their right to self defense."
Rick Hepp covers criminal justice. He may be reached at
rhepp@starledger.com or (609) 989-0398.
