UPDATE ON NJ "GULAG FOR

GUN OWNERS" LEGISLATION

1. As reported earlier this week, most of the concerns of honest gun owners were addressed by amendments made in Assembly committee which would require violent criminal behavior before pre-trial imprisonment can apply.

2. The one remaining issue that was not addressed (getting the gulag for mere possession of certain banned classes of semi-auto's) remains unresolved in the Assembly and does not appear likely to be resolved anytime soon. The full Assembly next meets on Thursday, March 24 and is scheduled to vote on this bill at that time.

3. However, two potential developments in the Senate offer some hope.  First, the Senate version of the gulag bill has been scheduled for a Senate committee hearing Monday morning on a "discussion-only" basis, which means that there will be a discussion of the bill but no vote to move it through committee at that time.  Secondly, a different bail reform bill has been scheduled for a hearing at that same meeting.  That bill provides for the gulag for those who steal firearms, so honest gun owners would not be affected by it.

4. One interpretation of these events is that the Senate may not wish to pass the more controversial first gulag bill, and is moving the second bill instead, as a proposed substitute.  Whether that interpretation is correct remains to be seen, but these developments are unusual and not what we normally encounter in Trenton.

In the meanwhile, gun owners should watch Monday's action with interest, but at this time there does not appear to be a need for gun owners to pressure committee members before Monday morning's hearing.  Should that change over the weekend, we will of course issue an appropriate call to action.

Please watch for further updates and alerts as these events unfold.