Former New Jersey Governor Jim Florio says now is the time to tighten New Jersey’s gun laws.

Florio spearheaded the enactment of New Jersey’s assault weapons ban in 1990.

He says gun violence is now a public health epidemic.

Florio is joining other members of a gun violence prevention coalition in urging the state Senate act on the gun control bills the Assembly passed last week.

 “The traditional approach of the NRA and the gun lobby when they’re under stress as they are now is to stall, to run out the clock, wait for people to become disengaged again. We can’t allow that to happen.”

New Jersey Education Association Vice President Wendell Steinhauer says it’s common sense to create weapons-free school zones and enact other laws to help prevent violence.

 “We urge the Senate to take quick action on these bills and we urge the governor to show that he puts the interests of children and safe communities ahead of the lobbyists for the gun industry by signing them promptly.”

Senate President Steve Sweeney has indicated the Senate may consider some of the gun bills by April, but it’s not known whether Governor Christie would sign any of them into law.