Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman JOSEPH CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman JASON O'DONNELL
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman CHARLES MAINOR
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
SYNOPSIS
Expresses support for Attorney General's gun buyback program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution expressing support for the gun buyback program established by the Attorney General.
Whereas, Gun buyback programs allow citizens to turn in handguns and other weapons, usually for a reward and without fear of prosecution; and
Whereas, Gun buyback programs held in this State have been proven successful in reducing the number of weapons on the street, particularly in cities plagued by gun violence; and
Whereas, Often funded by forfeiture funds collected by State and county law enforcement agencies, including money seized from drug dealers, gun buyback programs have no direct cost to taxpayers; and
Whereas, The Attorney General, in conjunction with the Camden County Prosecutor's Office and the Camden Police Department, held a two-day gun buyback program in Camden on December 14 and 15, 2012 that netted 1,137 weapons, possibly setting a record for gun buyback programs in this State; and
Whereas, Deadly weapons collected during the December Camden gun buy back program consisted of handguns, rifles, semi-automatic weapons, and revolvers, all of which will be melted down and re-fabricated into other products instead of being used by gang members and others to kill people and commit other crimes; and
Whereas, The Attorney General has scheduled a two-day gun buyback program in Trenton, coined the "Trenton-Mercer Gun Amnesty Program," on January 25 and 26, 2013, offering $250 per gun; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for the General Assembly to express its support for gun buyback programs established by the Attorney General of this State and encourages more of these programs to be held throughout the State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly expresses support for gun buyback programs established by the Attorney General of this State and encourages more of these programs to be held throughout the State.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this Assembly Resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the Governor and the Attorney General.
STATEMENT
This Assembly Resolution expresses support for gun buyback programs established by the Attorney General of this State and encourages more of these programs to be held throughout the State. Gun buyback programs held in this State, including Camden, have proven successful in reducing the number of weapons on the street being used to commit crimes.