Everytown, New Jersey Moms Praise State Senators for Passing Bipartisan Bill to Protect Women from Domestic Abusers
8.2.2016
TRENTON, N.J.—The New Jersey chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today praised state senators for passing legislation designed to keep women safe from domestic violence. Senate Bill 2483, sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg, sailed through the state Senate with unanimous and bipartisan support.
STATEMENT FROM BRETT SABO, VOLUNTEER WITH THE NEW JERSEY CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“State senators deserve support for passing legislation that will protect victims of domestic violence by putting in place a system to ensure prohibited abusers surrender their firearms. This is a common-sense enforcement policy that has widespread bipartisan support in the New Jersey Senate and Assembly, and is supported by 82 percent of New Jerseyans. States that keep guns away from domestic abusers see meaningful reductions in intimate partner gun homicides in their cities. It’s encouraging that our leaders understand that we can and must do more to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”
Under New Jersey state law, domestic abusers are prohibited from having guns if they are subject to a final restraining order or are convicted of a domestic violence offense or crime. But, state law currently does not require these abusers to turn in the guns they already owned. That means that an abuser may be able to go directly home from court and use guns still in his possession to harm an ex-wife or ex-girlfriend.
Senate Bill 2483 will close these dangerous loopholes in New Jersey law by requiring that every time a person is convicted of domestic violence he must turn in any guns he owns and that those under final protective orders must do the same. In addition to Weinberg, Republican Senator Thomas Kean Jr. was also instrumental in helping advance the legislation.
The bill now moves to the Assembly where Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera will continue to champion the legislation.