NJ Lawmaker Again Pushing Smart Gun Legislation

The anti-gunners in New Jersey are back at work, this time determined to revive old “smart gun” legislation that has already failed miserably.

[Amidst recent media reports that the security measures of one of the most promising smart gun prototypes out there can be overridden a number of ways, including one method using a simple $15 magnet (the gun costs $1,500), NJ Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg will head to Washington D.C. this week to kick-start a 15-year quest to "requires personalized 'smart guns' on the shelves of New Jersey gun retailers," according to this story from nj1015.com.

The guns, which do not physically exist yet and seem to be a long way from being technologically perfected, could, in theory, only be fired by authorized users and would be useless if stolen or found by someone who shouldn't be able to use a gun.

The current controversial law in the state requires them to be exclusively sold in New Jersey stores, meaning all other handguns would become illegal to sell, once they’re viable and brought to market.

"They're wanting to move toward the child-proof handgun technology, so we'll hear the results of that survey. We have a panel. Some people who are involved in the research and development will also be there," Weinberg said in the story, referencing a survey on safety concerns of 400 law enforcement professionals.

"From what I've heard, there is a very positive feeling, once the technology is developed and tested. But it can't be if the NRA is so fearful of moving ahead with this," Weinberg said in the story.

The NRA does not oppose the development of smart guns or the technology being brought to the market, but vigorously opposes any laws that prohibit people from buying or possessing guns that don’t possess such technology.

Weinberg wants to amend the law to actually bring it more in line with the NRA’s stance on the surface, by loosening the wording of the legislation to still require retailers to sells smart guns, if the tech is ever viable, alongside traditional firearms, but not exclusively.

Such legislation has twice been put before Gov. Chris Christie, who vetoed both bills. He said in a 2016 veto that the proposal would have "replaced one unnecessary mandate with another unjustified restriction on firearms sales" as part of "the relentless campaign by the Democratic legislature to make New Jersey as inhospitable as possible to lawful gun ownership and sales," according to the story.

Democrat gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy, who is ahead in the polls, has pledged to sign all the gun bills Christie has rejected, nine in all.

“I’ve already told Ambassador Murphy — hopefully he will be the governor — I have at least 20 bills ready the day he walks in that have all been vetoed by Gov. Christie,” Weinberg said.

Things aren’t looking good for gun owners in the Garden State, which already has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country.