Nj assembly committee to consider school grounds penalty increase

NJgunowner · June 6, 2012, 06:22 PM

NJ ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER SCHOOL GROUNDS PENALTY INCREASE

NJ is on the rampage again, if you're in NJ I'd seriously consider writing IMMEDIATELY to the committee members below to help squash their latest travesty.

Possession of all BB guns and air guns would carry 7-10 year prison sentences with no possibility of leniency.

Parents picking up their children at school after hunting or target shooting would also be at risk.

Victim disarmament zones would be ensured.

On Thursday, June 7 at 2:00 p.m., the New Jersey Assembly Law & Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider A1216, legislation that would increase the penalty for possession of a "firearm" on the grounds of an educational institution, raising it from a third to second degree crime. Second degree crimes carry a presumptive 7-10 year prison sentence and a fine of up to $150,000, with no opportunity for New Jersey's "pre-trial intervention leniency program, and very limited sentencing discretion by the judge.

New Jersey's definition of "firearm" includes all BB guns and air guns, even though they are commonly regarded as toys in much of the country. Someone who mistakenly possesses a BB gun or air gun on school grounds - even a broken one - would be subject to the lengthy and unforgiving prison sentence that A1216 imposes, with no possibility of leniency, and a presumption in favor of imprisonment. Also, parents picking up their children at school after hunting or target shooting, or to go hunting or target shooting, would also be at risk of A1216's draconian punishment if they enter on school grounds with a firearm unloaded and properly stored in their vehicle, even though they are not involved in criminal activity.

This thoughtless legislation also virtually ensures that New Jersey schools would become victim disarmament zones - even teachers licensed with gun permits would be subject to lengthy incarceration, chilling their right of self-defense to protect themselves and school children from attack.

Ironically, A1216 is a "solution" to a problem that has already been solved. Firearms possession for an unlawful purpose is already a second degree crime in New Jersey, so this legislation adds nothing except cruel and unusual punishment for innocent mistakes.

PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CONTACT MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND TELL THEM TO VOTE "NO" ON A1216!

MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:

Charles Mainor (Chair) (D31)
[email protected]
Phone: 201-536-7851
Fax: 201-536-7854

Gilbert L. Wilson (Vice Chair) (D5)
[email protected]
Phone: 856-547-4800
Fax: 856-547-5496

Nelson T. Albano (D1)
[email protected]
P: (856) 696-7109
f: (856) 696-7159

Daniel R. Benson (D14)
[email protected]
Phone: 609-631-0198
Fax: 609-631-0324

Sean Connors (D33)
[email protected]
Phone: 201-795-9190
Joseph Cryan (D20)

[email protected]
Phone: 908-624-0880
Fax: 908-624-0587
Sean T. Kean (R30)

[email protected]
Phone: 732-974-0400
Fax: 732-974-2564

Gregory P. McGuckin (R10)
[email protected]
Phone: 732-840-9028
Fax: 732-840-9757

Erik Peterson (R23)
[email protected]
Phone: 908-238-0251
Fax: 908-238-0256

David P. Rible (R30)
[email protected]
Phone: 732-974-0400
Fax: 732-974-2564

Bonnie Watson Coleman (D15)
mailto:[email protected]
Phone: 609-292-0500
Fax: 609-633-2179

NJgunowner · June 7, 2012, 02:40 PM

Well, I guess we made some impression as they've agreed to drop bb guns and airsoft guns from this bill. We're still working on the rest of it.

What we're working on is getting FID card holders exempted from this bill. (NJ Firearms ID card holders) Personally I'd rather see FID's disappear altogether but one thing at a time.

June 6, 2012, 06:22 PM	#1
NJgunowner Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 1,254	Nj assembly committee to consider school grounds penalty increase NJ ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER SCHOOL GROUNDS PENALTY INCREASE NJ is on the rampage again, if you're in NJ I'd seriously consider writing IMMEDIATELY to the committee members below to help squash their latest travesty. Possession of all BB guns and air guns would carry 7-10 year prison sentences with no possibility of leniency. Parents picking up their children at school after hunting or target shooting would also be at risk. Victim disarmament zones would be ensured. On Thursday, June 7 at 2:00 p.m., the New Jersey Assembly Law & Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider A1216, legislation that would increase the penalty for possession of a "firearm" on the grounds of an educational institution, raising it from a third to second degree crime. Second degree crimes carry a presumptive 7-10 year prison sentence and a fine of up to $150,000, with no opportunity for New Jersey's "pre-trial intervention leniency program, and very limited sentencing discretion by the judge. New Jersey's definition of "firearm" includes all BB guns and air guns, even though they are commonly regarded as toys in much of the country. Someone who mistakenly possesses a BB gun or air gun on school grounds - even a broken one - would be subject to the lengthy and unforgiving prison sentence that A1216 imposes, with no possibility of leniency, and a presumption in favor of imprisonment. Also, parents picking up their children at school after hunting or target shooting, or to go hunting or target shooting, would also be at risk of A1216's draconian punishment if they enter on school grounds with a firearm unloaded and properly stored in their vehicle, even though they are not involved in criminal activity. This thoughtless legislation also virtually ensures that New Jersey schools would become victim disarmament zones - even teachers licensed with gun permits would be subject to lengthy incarceration, chilling their right of self-defense to protect themselves and school children from attack. Ironically, A1216 is a "solution" to a problem that has already been solved. Firearms possession for an unlawful purpose is already a second degree crime in New Jersey, so this legislation adds nothing except cruel and unusual punishment for innocent mistakes. PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CONTACT MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND TELL THEM TO VOTE "NO" ON A1216! MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: Charles Mainor (Chair) (D31) [email protected] Phone: 201-536-7851 Fax: 201-536-7854 Gilbert L. Wilson (Vice Chair) (D5) [email protected] Phone: 856-547-4800 Fax: 856-547-5496 Nelson T. Albano (D1) [email protected] P: (856) 696-7109 f: (856) 696-7159 Daniel R. Benson (D14) [email protected] Phone: 609-631-0198 Fax: 609-631-0324 Sean Connors (D33) [email protected] Phone: 201-795-9190 Joseph Cryan (D20) [email protected] Phone: 908-624-0880 Fax: 908-624-0587 Sean T. Kean (R30) [email protected] Phone: 732-974-0400 Fax: 732-974-2564 Gregory P. McGuckin (R10) [email protected] Phone: 732-840-9028 Fax: 732-840-9757 Erik Peterson (R23) [email protected] Phone: 908-238-0251 Fax: 908-238-0256 David P. Rible (R30) [email protected] Phone: 732-974-0400 Fax: 732-974-2564 Bonnie Watson Coleman (D15) mailto:[email protected] Phone: 609-292-0500 Fax: 609-633-2179 Last edited by NJgunowner; June 6, 2012 at 06:31 PM.

June 7, 2012, 02:40 PM	#2
NJgunowner Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 1,254	Well, I guess we made some impression as they've agreed to drop bb guns and airsoft guns from this bill. We're still working on the rest of it. What we're working on is getting FID card holders exempted from this bill. (NJ Firearms ID card holders) Personally I'd rather see FID's disappear altogether but one thing at a time.