Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Murphy, McKnight, Assemblyman McKeon and Assemblywoman Swain
SYNOPSIS
Supports Governor’s call to reconvene “States for Gun Safety” Summit and calls for summit to reconvene as soon as it is safe for participants to attend.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution supporting the Governor’s call to reconvene the “States for Gun Safety” Summit and calling for the summit to be reconvened as soon as it is safe for participants to attend.
Whereas, While New Jersey has the sixth-lowest gun death rate in the nation, more than 400 New Jersey residents are still killed with a gun each year, according to the Giffords Law Center; and
Whereas, Gun violence has a disproportionate impact on communities of color and exposure to gun violence can cause lasting trauma in young people, according to the Giffords Law Center; and
Whereas, New Jersey was poised to host a multi-state summit in Newark in 2020 on gun safety issues; and
Whereas, This summit was a first of its kind event organized by a coalition of states that formed three years ago in response to persistent inaction on gun control at the federal level; and
Whereas, The multi-state effort has involved sharing of data among the member states, including the exchange of information about illegal trafficking and persons disqualified from owning firearms; and
Whereas, The summit was expected to draw governors and officials from New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
Whereas, Governor Murphy is commended for calling the “States for Gun Safety” Summit in an effort to reduce the epidemic of gun violence; and
Whereas, The summit should be reconvened as soon as it is safe for participants to attend, taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House supports Governor Murphy’s call to reconvene the “States for Gun Safety” Summit and calls for the summit to be reconvened as soon as it is safe for participants to attend, taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution
supports the Governor’s call to
reconvene the “States for Gun Safety” Summit and calls for the summit to
reconvene as soon as it is safe for participants to attend, taking into
consideration the COVID-19 pandemic.
While New Jersey has the sixth-lowest gun death rate in the nation, more than 400 New Jersey residents are still killed with a gun each year, according to the Giffords Law Center.
New Jersey was poised to host a multi-state summit in Newark in 2020 on gun safety issues. This summit was a first of its kind event organized by a coalition of states that formed three years ago in response to persistent inaction on gun control at the federal level.
The summit was expected to draw governors and officials from New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Murphy is commended for calling the “States for Gun Safety” Summit in an effort to reduce the epidemic of gun violence.
The summit should be reconvened as soon as it is safe for participants to attend, taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic.