Sunday, May 26, 2013
Christie's political ambitions could mean veto if governor wants to appeal to national Republican primary voters
Democrats say the multibill gun-reform package they are poised to send to the governor’s desk can be a model for other states, but there are no guarantees that it will become law. That’s because it remains unclear whether Gov. Chris Christie's potential national ambitions might cause him to take a more conservative stance on gun laws than he has in the past. If he does, it could result in him vetoing or conditionally vetoing the legislation. Christie, a former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, has endorsed an assault-weapons ban in previous political races and is on record supporting a state one-gun-per-month limit. Academics who study New Jersey politics said the gun issue has a low profile and is unlikely to affect statewide races. If the …
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Speakers at the rally in Ridgewood pressed the crowd to lobby the state senate in support of 12 proposed gun control bills.
With the failure of proposed gun control measures to pass the Senate this week, gun control proponents turned their focus to the state level in a rally on Sunday. “Stand Up for Gun Sanity,” sponsored by the Bergen County Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and held at Ridgewood’s Christ Episcopal Church, featured Congressman Bill Pascrell, State Senators Loretta Weinberg and Robert Gordon, as well as several speakers from around the county. “We support the second amendment rights of law abiding Americans,” Pascrell said. “We support citizens’ right to possess firearms for hunting, shooting sports, defense—lawful and legitimate purposes. But we insist on reinstating and strengthening the prospective federal ban on assault weapons.” Pascrell, …
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Assault weapon restriction among gun control measures set to be introduced Monday.
New Jersey would create a new instant criminal background check system for gun buyers, require safety training to obtain a firearms permit and toughen penalties on gun traffickers under legislation announced Friday by state senate Democrats. Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Law and Public Safety Chairman Donald Norcross are set to introduce the multi-bill package Monday. "I worked with Majority Leader Weinberg and Law and Public Safety Chairman Norcross, as well as advocates on both sides of the discussion, to compile a package of bills that will serve as a national model on gun safety," Sweeney said in a statement. The "centerpiece" of the legislation would establish the instant background check …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Therapists would be required to report patients who present a threat to themselves or others to state attorney general
Mental health professionals are raising concerns about a bill that would require them to report to the attorney general any patients they feel are likely to harm themselves or others, allowing authorities to seize firearms from those who are registered gun owners. The proposed legislation is a possible step that Gov. Chris Christie and the state Senate could take as they mull what to do to address guns in the wake of the Newtown, CT, mass shooting. The Assembly has passed a series of bills focusing on guns, including A-3754, which would apply to psychiatrists, psychologists, doctors, nurses, clinical social workers, and marriage counselors. Many of these professionals argue that the bill could do more harm than good. The measure would …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Proposed gun regulations include new limit on ammunition capacity and mental health checks
Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg spoke in Teaneck Sunday to detail her support for a host of proposed gun regulations and faced opposition from gun rights advocates. The Assembly advanced the 22 new gun control measures in February after the deadly elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn. The state Senate is set to take up the matter in late April. Banning .50 caliber weapons, limiting the ammunition capacity of magazines to 10 bullets from 15, mandatory safety training, and requiring background checks for private gun sales are some of the proposed measures. The package would also prohibit people on federal terror watch lists from buying weapons. Weinberg described the legislation as common sense regulations that would not …
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Catch up on all of Fort Lee's leading news stories.
After 67 years, the last of the old guard Main Street merchants will soon be closed for good. Fort Lee Police Officer Brett Howard delivers a baby boy on Main Street. Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster Simon Kim of Tiger Twins Tae Kwon Do Academy, wants to offer a workshop for children to ease their anxiety and raise their self confidence. In the wake of the Newtown massacre, schools coping with upgrading security without going over the 2 percent cap may get relief from pending legislation. Fort Lee's Robert V. Tessaro writes about the New Jersey Assembly's vote Thursday to approve a wide-ranging package of 22 bills aimed at curbing gun violence. Resolution passed to name the new three-screen cinema and film museum to be constructed in Redevelopment …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
NorthJersey.com reports two ejected by State Police as Law and Public Safety Committee passes 24 bills.
The New Jersey Assembly's Law and Public Safety Committee passed a package of 24 gun control bills today, amid an overflow crowd that "cheered, laughed and yelled," according to NorthJersey.com. The bills passed by the committee include legislation to bar persons on the federal terrorist watch list from obtaining firearms, legislation prohibiting body armor-piercing ammunition and mail ordering of ammunition, and creating "weapon free" school zones. According to the Associated Press, the full Assembly is also set to vote on bills requiring New Jersey to submit certain mental health records to the federal background check system, and removing gun ownership records from public disclosure rules. But the hearing today was a spirited one, …
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Catch up on last week's top Fort Lee stories here.
Budding designer from Paramus left "suicide diary," according to newspaper report. In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook School massac.re, the Mayor and Council have adopted a resolution against gun violence Mayor and Council consider the request made by Fort Lee Redevlopement Associates to rename Martha Washington Way to Park Avenue. Englewood Hospital Medical Center partners with four medical practices to bring comprehensive healthcare to the community and help make healthcare easy. Since her decision to step down as a member, and Vice President, of the Fort Lee Board of Education, lifelong resident Linda McCue is not sitting idle. Find out what makes her run. The landscape of lower Main Street is about to change again. The strip of stores …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
In light of Newton massacre, resident proposes a resolution on reducing gun violence that is adopted by the Mayor and Council.
In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook School massacre, the Mayor and Council have adopted a resolution against gun violence during Thursday's work session. Drafted by Rose Marie Manger, the resolution joins Mayor Mark Sokolich with Mayors against Illegal Guns, a group co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino that has received the support of over 800 mayors from all across the country. This resolution would also support President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden's plan to end gun violence, as well as support the bills currently pending in the New Jersey State Legislature. Manger, a concerned citizen who had attended rallies to end gun violence hosted by Teaneck's Ethical Culture Society, …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Patch contributor Robert V. Tessaro was invited to speak at the One Million Moms for Gun Control Rally in Jersey City held Saturday.
This past weekend, Patch contributor Robert V. Tessaro was invited to speak at the One Million Moms for Gun Control rally in Jersey City. According to Tessaro, hundreds of mothers, fathers, and residents from across the Garden State braved the frigid cold weather to send a strong message to Trenton and Washington, D.C. that they demand action to end gun violence. Similar rallies were held across the country, with the largest on the National Mall in Washington attended by Assemblywoman Connie Wagner. Also speaking at the Jersey City event were U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone, Former Governor Jim Florio, State Senators Loretta Weinberg, Bob Gordon, Barbara Buono, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healey. Tessaro …
Davie
12:11 pm on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
They have an agenda far removed from mainstream America and that is sad. more ›