New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin just announced that further discussion and a vote on the controversial Concealed Carry Restriction bill, will be suspended from the schedule.
The bill aims to create new difficulties for gun owners seeking carry permits by listing 25 categories of sensitive places where guns are prohibited, including beaches, parks, playgrounds, bars and parks.
An earlier version of the bill, sought to also ban firearms in houses of worship, as reported exclusively by TLS, but was dropped from the current version of the bill.
The bill, which was moving swiftly through the Legislature, has drawn criticism from Republicans who said it was too vague and far reaching.
Sources in Trenton tell TLS that they still expect the bill to reach the governor’s desk eventually but will be amended to clarify some of the current bill’s language, including the broad use of the word “weapon,” changing it to “destructive device.”
However, Republicans were quick to celebrate, with Assemblyman Kevin Rooney (R-Wyckoff) calling a “victory for lawful firearm owners and for common sense gun legislation.”
Earlier in the day, the bill, which was only introduced two weeks ago, was approved by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee following a three-hour hearing during which they made 15 amendments to the bill.
Three Assembly committees already approved that house’s version of the bill.
Many legal observers expect the bill to be challenged in court once ultimately signed by Governor Murphy.
I wouldn’t hold my breath let alone call it a “victory”. I’m sure they’re planning to “review” the vague and far reaching nonsense they wrote all the way past the election. They have to keep it under wraps now. The dums true agenda is showing and they are scared of the numbers as more and more people are waking up.
The bill in whatever form is unconstitutional and will eventually be overturned, this version was just written extremely stupidly by anti gun morons, they have to rush to restrict your rights and you get a garbage bill that gets you years in jail for stepping on someone’s property while carrying a pen in your pocket.