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Democrats backing off on childproof gun measure(NJ
Josey1
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Democrats backing off on childproof gun measure
McGreevey fears rousing wrath of powerful NRA
Friday, June 21, 2002
BY JEFF WHELAN
Star-Ledger Staff
Gov. James E. McGreevey used gun control as a defining issue in his gubernatorial campaign last year, leading many gun control advocates to believe he would champion their cause in office.
But behind the scenes the McGreevey administration has quietly urged Democratic leaders to bottle up the centerpiece of the gun control legislative agenda -- a measure to mandate so-called childproof handguns. Democratic lawmakers privately say the reasoning is that supporting the measure could invite disaster for their party in next year's midterm elections and McGreevey's re-election bid in 2005.
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Last year, McGreevey highlighted his support for gun control to paint a stark contrast between himself and his opponent, Republican Bret Schundler, who had the backing of the gun lobby. In a candidate's questionnaire for one of the state's leading gun control groups, Ceasefire New Jersey, McGreevey said that if elected he would support passage of the childproof handgun bill in the Legislature and sign it into law.
But the Governor's spokesman, Paul Aronsohn, was noncommittal.
"No decisions are made until legislation reaches his desk. That's standard," Aronsohn said this week. He also declined to say whether the Governor even supported the concept of the bill or whether McGreevey's current position differed from the view he expressed as a candidate.
The so-called childproof handgun bill would mandate that all handguns sold in the state be equipped with trigger locks three years after such technology is available. The locks are intended to make it impossible for anyone but an authorized user to fire the weapon. The bill has become the flash point in the gun control debate, with advocates on both sides of the issue making it their highest priority.
But now, some Democrats are balking. Their reasoning goes that even if they defeat the National Rifle Association, the gun lobby will fire back by fanning opposition to McGreevey's controversial plans to raise corporate business taxes and to freeze state aid to municipalities and school districts.
"They believe the NRA is a sleeping giant and they don't want to wake them," said one Democratic lawmaker, who requested anonymity.
Democrats sympathetic to the administration's fears point to the experience of Gov. Jim Florio, who enacted the state's landmark assault weapons ban while simultaneously pushing through a historic tax increase.
Florio won a fierce battle with the NRA and its New Jersey affiliate, the Coalition of New Jersey Sportsmen. The victory earned him a "Profiles in Courage" award from the JFK library. But the move enraged the gun lobby, which retaliated by helping to fuel the anti-tax revolt that led to his re-election defeat.
The childproof handgun bill has been approved by a Senate committee, and state Senate co-President Richard Codey (D-Essex) plans to post it for a vote by the full Senate next week. Codey is the sponsor and a longtime champion of the measure. Passage is expected, with Senate co-President John Bennett (R-Monmouth) a co-sponsor of the bill.
Assembly Speaker Albio Sires, has delayed action on the bill, however. Although he also supported the bill during the fall campaign, he now says he is in no hurry to call the measure for a vote because childproof locks have not been perfected and are not available. He also said there isn't enough support in the Assembly to pass the plan.
Democrats, who had the backing of gun control groups in the November elections, control the Assembly 44 to 36.
Bryan Miller, executive director of Ceasefire New Jersey, said he now fears the bill will die in the Assembly, just as it did last year. During last year's campaign, 41 candidates who are now in the Assembly, enough to approve the bill, went on record saying they would vote for the plan.
"Frankly, the voters spoke on the gun issue very loudly in the last election," said Miller. "There is just no reason why not to do it right now. There is no rational reason to oppose it. We know we've got majorities in both houses, so we are puzzled as to why it has not passed by now."
Supporters also see mischief in the fact that the bill was assigned to the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee. The chairwoman, Assemblywoman Joan Quigley (D-Hudson), said the panel has been preoccupied by anti-terrorism legislation. She also echoed Sires' point that the technology for the lock doesn't exist. Even so, she said she might bring it up for a vote in the fall.
Last year, the measure was assigned to the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee, which is now chaired by Assemblyman Peter Barnes (D-Middlesex). Barnes, a former FBI agent and co-sponsor of the bill, said that if the bill were in his committee, he would call for a vote.
Rich Miller, executive director of the Coalition of New Jersey Sportsmen, said Democratic resistance is no accident. He said defeating the bill, which he believes is unconstitutional, is his group's top priority. He said he believes his message has gotten through to the McGreevey administration that gun control is ultimately a losing battle for Democrats.
"It's a one-issue deal for the pro-gunners. Most anti-gunners, it's not a one-issue item," said Rich Miller, who has no relation to the Ceasefire executive director. "With us, you saw it with Florio. If I can't beat you on guns, I'll beat you on taxes, or any other issue. But you are going to lose."
http://www.njo.com/statehouse/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1024650629313354.xml
Jeff Whelan covers politics. He can be reached at jwhelan@starledger.com or (609) 989-0379.
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
McGreevey fears rousing wrath of powerful NRA
Friday, June 21, 2002
BY JEFF WHELAN
Star-Ledger Staff
Gov. James E. McGreevey used gun control as a defining issue in his gubernatorial campaign last year, leading many gun control advocates to believe he would champion their cause in office.
But behind the scenes the McGreevey administration has quietly urged Democratic leaders to bottle up the centerpiece of the gun control legislative agenda -- a measure to mandate so-called childproof handguns. Democratic lawmakers privately say the reasoning is that supporting the measure could invite disaster for their party in next year's midterm elections and McGreevey's re-election bid in 2005.
Information from Our Advertisers
Last year, McGreevey highlighted his support for gun control to paint a stark contrast between himself and his opponent, Republican Bret Schundler, who had the backing of the gun lobby. In a candidate's questionnaire for one of the state's leading gun control groups, Ceasefire New Jersey, McGreevey said that if elected he would support passage of the childproof handgun bill in the Legislature and sign it into law.
But the Governor's spokesman, Paul Aronsohn, was noncommittal.
"No decisions are made until legislation reaches his desk. That's standard," Aronsohn said this week. He also declined to say whether the Governor even supported the concept of the bill or whether McGreevey's current position differed from the view he expressed as a candidate.
The so-called childproof handgun bill would mandate that all handguns sold in the state be equipped with trigger locks three years after such technology is available. The locks are intended to make it impossible for anyone but an authorized user to fire the weapon. The bill has become the flash point in the gun control debate, with advocates on both sides of the issue making it their highest priority.
But now, some Democrats are balking. Their reasoning goes that even if they defeat the National Rifle Association, the gun lobby will fire back by fanning opposition to McGreevey's controversial plans to raise corporate business taxes and to freeze state aid to municipalities and school districts.
"They believe the NRA is a sleeping giant and they don't want to wake them," said one Democratic lawmaker, who requested anonymity.
Democrats sympathetic to the administration's fears point to the experience of Gov. Jim Florio, who enacted the state's landmark assault weapons ban while simultaneously pushing through a historic tax increase.
Florio won a fierce battle with the NRA and its New Jersey affiliate, the Coalition of New Jersey Sportsmen. The victory earned him a "Profiles in Courage" award from the JFK library. But the move enraged the gun lobby, which retaliated by helping to fuel the anti-tax revolt that led to his re-election defeat.
The childproof handgun bill has been approved by a Senate committee, and state Senate co-President Richard Codey (D-Essex) plans to post it for a vote by the full Senate next week. Codey is the sponsor and a longtime champion of the measure. Passage is expected, with Senate co-President John Bennett (R-Monmouth) a co-sponsor of the bill.
Assembly Speaker Albio Sires, has delayed action on the bill, however. Although he also supported the bill during the fall campaign, he now says he is in no hurry to call the measure for a vote because childproof locks have not been perfected and are not available. He also said there isn't enough support in the Assembly to pass the plan.
Democrats, who had the backing of gun control groups in the November elections, control the Assembly 44 to 36.
Bryan Miller, executive director of Ceasefire New Jersey, said he now fears the bill will die in the Assembly, just as it did last year. During last year's campaign, 41 candidates who are now in the Assembly, enough to approve the bill, went on record saying they would vote for the plan.
"Frankly, the voters spoke on the gun issue very loudly in the last election," said Miller. "There is just no reason why not to do it right now. There is no rational reason to oppose it. We know we've got majorities in both houses, so we are puzzled as to why it has not passed by now."
Supporters also see mischief in the fact that the bill was assigned to the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee. The chairwoman, Assemblywoman Joan Quigley (D-Hudson), said the panel has been preoccupied by anti-terrorism legislation. She also echoed Sires' point that the technology for the lock doesn't exist. Even so, she said she might bring it up for a vote in the fall.
Last year, the measure was assigned to the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee, which is now chaired by Assemblyman Peter Barnes (D-Middlesex). Barnes, a former FBI agent and co-sponsor of the bill, said that if the bill were in his committee, he would call for a vote.
Rich Miller, executive director of the Coalition of New Jersey Sportsmen, said Democratic resistance is no accident. He said defeating the bill, which he believes is unconstitutional, is his group's top priority. He said he believes his message has gotten through to the McGreevey administration that gun control is ultimately a losing battle for Democrats.
"It's a one-issue deal for the pro-gunners. Most anti-gunners, it's not a one-issue item," said Rich Miller, who has no relation to the Ceasefire executive director. "With us, you saw it with Florio. If I can't beat you on guns, I'll beat you on taxes, or any other issue. But you are going to lose."
http://www.njo.com/statehouse/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1024650629313354.xml
Jeff Whelan covers politics. He can be reached at jwhelan@starledger.com or (609) 989-0379.
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878