Bill to allow more retired officers in NJ to carry firearms clears Assembly

lkwd gun id cardLegislation allowing more retired law enforcement officers to carry firearms cleared the General Assembly by a 77-0 vote. The bill is sponsored by Assemblymen Dave Rible, Ron Dancer, Declan O’Scanlon, Parker Space and Assemblywoman Gail Phoebus

“There was some confusion in the way the law was written,” said Rible (R—Monmouth). “We had a number of frustrated lawmen come to us who had been denied a permit after long careers of public service with a gun and a badge. The State Police suggested that the Legislature clear up the confusion, and this bill does just that.”

The bill (A2690) allows retired law enforcement officers such as state park police, parole officers, N.J. Transit and campus police among others to carry concealed weapons until they turn 75 years old.

“These men and women spent their careers fighting crime and keeping people safe,” said Dancer (R—Ocean). “They know the law and can handle weapons, and it makes sense to allow them to continue to carry a firearm.”

In 1997, then-Gov. Christie Todd Whitman signed a law allowing retired police officers to carry concealed weapons in response to the murder of a retired policeman who attempted to stop a car-jacking at a Newark cemetery.

“These are men and women who have spent their careers fighting crime and keeping people safe,” said Dancer (R—Ocean). “They understand the law, they know how to handle the weapons, and it makes sense to allow them to continue to carry a firearm.”

O’Scanlon (R—Monmouth) said, “This will only add to the number of qualified people prepared to defend and protect us if the need ever arises. Tragedies such as the Colorado theater shooting could have been curtailed if a police officer, retired or otherwise, were present and armed. Having more among us will only help make us safer.”

“A cop is a cop. They may have retired from their jobs, but not their commitment to ‘protect and serve’,” said Space (R—Sussex). “This legislation makes New Jersey more compliant with the federal law and will make our neighborhoods safer and more comfortable for everybody except criminals.”

“It will also allow the public to feel more secure,” said Phoebus (R—Sussex). “We have done a great job fighting crime in New Jersey, and the statistics prove it. But a single incident of violent crime is one too many. A retired officer with a gun may be able to prevent it from happening.”

[TLS]

This content, and any other content on TLS, may not be republished or reproduced without prior permission from TLS. Copying or reproducing our content is both against the law and against Halacha. To inquire about using our content, including videos or photos, email us at [email protected].

Stay up to date with our news alerts by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

**Click here to join over 20,000 receiving our Whatsapp Status updates!**

**Click here to join the official TLS WhatsApp Community!**

Got a news tip? Email us at [email protected], Text 415-857-2667, or WhatsApp 609-661-8668.

1 COMMENT

Comments are closed.