January saw some interesting bills surface. A2910, sponsored by Asm.Neil Cohen (D-20), would give NJIT another million dollars for research, but also offered tax incentives for dealers and manufacturers as well as a [measly] $25 rebate for buyers of smart guns. This bill was heard before the tax board. I attended the tax board meeting. A2910 was the only bill up and there was a quorum. They discussed the bill - I had to jump in a couple of times to clarify points. The end result was a unanimous NO vote on the tax incentives. I am sure this was due to our presence. Also, in talking with some legislators re budget constraints, the likelihood of NJIT seeing that million dollars is diminished. 

Bill A3134, sponsored by Asw. Loretta Weinberg (D-37), would make all gunsmiths bring in firearms sent to them for repair for ballistic identification. Since the Senate bill S2029  (companion bill to the passed Assembly Ballistic ID bill A438 ) has not yet been heard in committee, we do not feel there will be a push to get this bill through yet. S2029 is in Senate Law & Public Safety Committee.

Bill S2219 (Sen. Girgenti, D-35), a bill to outlaw pellet guns that look like real guns, was held in Law & Public Safety Committee. There was no discussion. It seems to me this bill would be impossible - all guns LOOK like guns, and to an unknowing observer 10 feet away any pellet gun would probably look like a real one. It would be worse if you made a pellet gun that did NOT look like a gun, and in fact there is a federal law against this.

Bill A3134, recently introduced and still in committee, would require gunsmiths to have firearms brought in for repair to be submitted for ballistic identification. 

Bill S1489, which would relax restrictions for firearms collectors, is stalled in Senate committee. In order to move it forward, committee members need to hear from constituents. The committee consists of Senators Inverso, Girgenti, Sacco, Furnari, Bucco and Cafiero.

Bill A3223 would restrict the issue of NJ firearms ID cards and permits to unqualified aliens. It still provides for sales to out-of-state purchasers. Unfortunately the wording inadvertently included long guns with handguns- that they would have to be shipped to a dealer in the purchaser’s state. I spoke to the bill’s sponsor, Asm. Deignan, about this and he assured me it would be corrected in Senate committee.  

Political redistricting is still unsolved. There are many races shaping up for the 2003 elections. Asw. Rose Heck (R-38) will run for Senate against incumbent Joseph Coniglio (D-38). Senator Cafiero (R-1) will be challenged in the primary by Asm. Nick Asselta (R-1). Conservative Jay Webber is after the seat currently held by Senator Martin ( R-26). Connie Myers (R-23) is being challenged by Mike Doherty and Chuck Haytaian. Sen. Bennett  (R-12) is having problems and Rich Pezzullo will be on the republican primary ticket. He is a conservative. This information is preliminary – a lot could happen between now and June primaries.

We got one reference in the State of State message (none in the press release) - about the gun lobby's stranglehold on Trenton having been broken. That means they know we’re there.

Incidentally, the WHYY smart gun interview I did turned out to be national. I'm getting emails from Colorado, Tennessee and Ohio etc.  Everyone liked what I said, but couldn’t believe New Jersey actually passed such a law. There are plans to do more interviews, on ballistic imaging and other firearms issues.

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