Christie Vetoes 2 Gun Control Bills

Chris Christie, in a continued effort to protect the Second Amendment, vetoed two gun-control bills in his state Wednesday, as The Wall Street Journal’s Kate King reported.

Gov. Chris Christie has conditionally vetoed legislation to increase the sales of so-called smart guns, as well as legislation for obtaining a firearms permit.

New Jersey Second Amendment Society – Our mission is to promote the free exercise of Second Amendment rights within the community and Legislature of New Jersey, to educate the community regarding the enjoyable, safe, and responsible use of firearms, and to engender a sense of camaraderie and fellowship among the members and their families.

Democrats said Christie’s veto amounted to an attempt to “pander” to out-of-state pro-gun groups.

“I continue to oppose the relentless campaign by the Democratic legislature to make New Jersey as inhospitable as possible to lawful gun ownership and sales”, Chrisitie said in a statement accompanying his vetoes.

Christie offered lawmakers rebooted versions of the legislation for their consideration.

One of the measures would have required New Jersey gun retailers to keep an inventory smart guns, which can only be fired by authorized users.

The governor’s actions would repeal a state law mandating the sale of firearms with “smart gun”, personalized firearm technology that has not been perfected, he said, in the 10 years the law has been on the books.

Christie also recommended eliminating the “justifiable need” requirement. The move came following recommendations of a panel established by Christie in 2015 in response to the death of Carol Bowne, 39, of Berlin.

Assembly Dems were not amused at the turn of events.

The state’s regulations on gun-carry permits is one of the most restrictive in the country, requiring applicants to apply for permission from their local police chief and a Superior Court judge by demonstrating “urgent necessity for self-protection, as evidenced by specific threats, or previous attacks”. “Our country has seen nothing short of an epidemic of gun violence in the past decade, from the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School to the massacre at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando”.