TRENTON – Senator Nia H. Gill (D-Essex/Passaic) issued the following statement today on the governor’s veto of legislation (S-993) she sponsored that would have reduced the legal maximum capacity of ammunition magazines to 10 rounds:
“We have seen time and again the tragic results of gun violence. We also know that with common sense changes to our laws, lives can be saved. The governor had an opportunity to prove that the safety of our residents was more important than his national political ambitions. He failed to do that.
“Addressing the role that mental health can have on violence is something the Legislature has already done and we are willing to do more. But that is no substitute for the bill to reduce the legal ammunition limit to ten rounds, which would do nothing more than bring our state back in line with the legal capacity permitted under the 1990’s federal law. The governor should have signed this legislation. It could make a real difference in making our communities safer from the terrible acts of violence that have taken so many lives and created so much fear and heartbreak.
“For years, New Jersey has long been a leader in putting forward strong gun control measures. The governor’s veto takes our state in the wrong direction. High-capacity magazines should not be on our streets, and by rejecting this legislation the governor has shown his disregard meaningful reform. This is truly a sad day for our residents and for our state.”