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TRENTON – The Senate on Thursday approved major portions of a comprehensive package of gun safety bills that will overhaul the state’s firearms permitting process by creating a modern, electronic system for universal background checks that will include mental health records and cover private transactions and ammunition sales, among other actions to prevent gun violence.

“This is a far-reaching plan to reduce gun violence that will serve as a national model for gun safety,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney, the plan’s lead sponsor. “We are accomplishing here in New Jersey what couldn’t get done in Washington. This plan will create a modern, electronic system of background checks for all gun sales that will help keep weapons out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them by including instant access to criminal and mental health records and by cracking down on illegal gun sales. These are important improvements to the state’s already tough laws that will help make our streets and communities safer and more secure.”

TRENTON – The Senate on Monday approved a number of bills that are part of a comprehensive package on gun safety. Approved today were 10 bills that will help keep weapons out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill, crack down on gun trafficking, improve reporting and tracing of illegal firearms by law enforcement and find ways to reduce violence and improve school safety, among other actions.

Set for action at the next Senate session on May 30th is the centerpiece of the plan that will overhaul and modernize the state’s permitting process, require background checks for all gun sales, including private transactions, require safety training and provide for the immediate loss of a gun license for those convicted of a crime or ordered into involuntary commitment.

“This is significant progress on a plan to reduce gun violence that will serve as a national model,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney, the plan’s lead sponsor. “We will act on the centerpiece of the plan at the next Senate session that will combine with the bills approved today to create a comprehensive plan for gun safety. These are important improvements that will help make our streets and communities safer and more secure.”