New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is calling on the legislature to introduce more measures that would tighten New Jersey’s already strict gun laws. He calls the package of bills ‘Gun Safety Package 2.0.’
“These latest bills will focus on gun trafficking, tightening the regulation of ammunition, speeding the accessibility of smart gun technology, and expanding community-based violence intervention,” Murphy said.
Murphy says he’s ready to act on legislation that would speed up the development and accessibility of smart guns, a technology where the weapon can only be fired by its authorized user. The move was previously vetoed by former Governor Chris Christie.
“We will narrow the smart gun requirement, so firearms dealers must offer at least one smart gun for sale when the technology is widely available,” Murphy said.
Murphy is working with the legislature to fight what’s called ‘straw purchasing,’ says State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.
“All too often, we see people that can’t buy guns, like convicted felons, they try to find ways around these rules. They ask somebody else to buy that gun for them,” Grewal said.
The governor wants to overhaul the state’s current regulations on ammunition sales.
“We would require photo identification, that’s not a big deal, right? To be shown prior to any sale of ammunition. We would bar individuals disqualified from owning a gun from purchasing or owning ammunition. That closes that loophole. We would require all sales of handgun ammunition to be reported to the state police.
Murphy says he supports a conviction for illegal firearms possession to disqualify a person from being able to buy a gun.