ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 164

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

215th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED APRIL 25, 2013

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  JASON O'DONNELL

District 31 (Hudson)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Memorializes the United States Senate to reconsider and pass the Manchin-Toomey Amendment to United States Senate Bill 649.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Assembly Resolution memorializing the United States Senate to reconsider and pass the Manchin-Toomey Amendment to United States Senate Bill 649.

 

Whereas, Recent events involving gun violence have heightened our nation's awareness of the danger that exists when adequate protections are not utilized to ensure that only responsible gun owners have access to firearms; and

Whereas, More Americans have been killed by guns since 1968 than have died in all the United States wars combined, beginning from the Revolutionary War; and

Whereas, Since 2010, there have been 57 deaths and 35 additional injuries caused by firearms in schools throughout the nation; and

Whereas, In 2012 alone, there were seven mass shootings in America, resulting in a total of 72 deaths and 68 other injuries; and

Whereas, In almost all of these mass shootings, there were prior signs of possible mental illness; and

Whereas, The firearms used in these mass shootings had been legally obtained in all but one case; and

Whereas, Weaknesses in this nation's gun laws have resulted in a clear and imminent danger to its citizens; and

Whereas, The Manchin-Toomey Amendment to United States Senate Bill 649 would have expanded required background checks for firearms purchases to include private sales at gun shows and all Internet sales; and

Whereas, This amendment represented a compromise between the more extensive changes advocated for by President Obama and the concerns of conservatives by continuing to exempt most sales between family members and friends; and

Whereas, The Manchin-Toomey proposal prohibited a national gun registry; and

Whereas, The approval of this amendment would allow for the subsequent passage of the more extensive gun control bill itself; and

Whereas, It is clear that increased gun control measures contained in United States Senate Bill 649 are necessary in order to restore the public safety and prevent further deaths by firearms; and

Whereas, It is therefore fitting and proper that the United States Congress act quickly to protect our nation's children and other citizens from further danger of gun violence; now therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    This House respectfully memorializes the United States Senate to reconsider and pass the Manchin-Toomey Amendment to United States Senate Bill 649.

     2.    Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, the chairs of the appropriate standing committees of the United States Senate, and every member of the New Jersey Congressional delegation.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This resolution would memorialize the United States Senate to reconsider and pass the Manchin-Toomey Amendment to United States Senate Bill 649.

     In support of its passage, the resolution cites overwhelming evidence of the need for the stricter gun control measures included in United States Senate Bill 649, and explains that the amendment is a compromise between the more extensive changes advocated for by President Obama and the concerns of conservatives.