Sponsored by:

Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

SYNOPSIS

Urges President and Congress of United States to enact assault weapons ban including prohibition against large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A Concurrent Resolution urging the President and the Congress of the United States to enact an assault weapons ban including a prohibition against large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

Whereas, The federal "Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994" which included provisions that banned the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices expired when Congress failed to reauthorize the act in 2004; and

Whereas, A new or reauthorized assault weapons ban should prohibit the manufacture, transfer, and possession of assault weapons and the transfer and possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, magazines, or clips; and

Whereas, Assault weapons are semi-automatic firearms designed with military features to allow rapid and accurate spray firing; they are designed to kill quickly and efficiently and are not intended for sport or hunting; and

Whereas, Assault weapons have been used in some of the nation's most horrific crimes including the recent tragedy in Arizona in which six people were killed and 13 others, including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, were injured; and

Whereas, The accused gunman in the Arizona massacre employed a large capacity magazine which allowed him to fire more than 30 shots quickly and without reloading; and

Whereas, Recognizing that assault weapons pose a serious threat to law enforcement and to the safety of the citizens in New Jersey, in 1990 New Jersey enacted legislation banning assault weapons and certain large capacity ammunition feeding devices; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper and in the public interest for this Legislature to respectfully urge the President and the Congress of the United States to enact an assault weapons ban including a prohibition against large capacity ammunition feeding devices; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

1. The President and the Congress of the United States are urged to enact an assault weapons ban including a prohibition against large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of State to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact an assault weapons ban including a prohibition against large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

The federal "Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994" which included provisions that banned the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices expired when Congress failed to reauthorize the act in 2004.

Assault weapons have been used in some of the nation's most horrific crimes including the recent tragedy in Arizona in which six people were killed and 13 others, including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, were injured.

Recognizing that assault weapons pose a serious threat to law enforcement and to the safety of the citizens in New Jersey, in 1990 New Jersey enacted legislation banning assault weapons and certain large capacity ammunition feeding devices.