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Murphy and Three Other Governors Form Gun Safety Coalition

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

The governors of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island are forming a regional 'States for Gun Safety' coalition.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy says more than 80 percent of the gun crimes in New Jersey are committed with guns from out of state.   He says the four states already have tough gun laws but believes they can be stronger.

“We’re working with the legislature to enact a whole series of steps, but it has to accept the reality that getting engaged with other like-minded states and hopefully beyond, we can mitigate this awful scourge.”

Phil Murphy says a cross-state task force will trace and intercept illegal guns and focus on sharing information about individuals who might pose a violent threat.

Murphy hopes to get universities involved in creating the nation's first regional gun violence consortium to collect data and make recommendations on how to stem the slaughter.

"The federal government has had a provision in place now for over 20 years that effectively bars the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention from studying gun violence.  So it has devolved to the states. And our thought is perhaps we can do it in a coordinated way. Things like meaningfully propelling smart gun technology."

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the states can’t wait for the federal government to pass responsible gun safety legislation.

“This is not about baby steps. This is not about bump stocks and moving the age from 18 to 21. Those are just political crumbs to end the political discomfort for some of the elected officials.”

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo hopes the coordinated state effort will make schools and communities safer.

“We can send a powerful message to the whole country that it is possible to improve our gun laws and safe lives. And we can all look at our kids and when they ask us what are you doing about it, we can give them a good answer.”

Murphy says he's working with the legislature to pass more gun safety laws in New Jersey.