Bill Text: NJ AR164 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes the United States Senate to reconsider and pass the Manchin-Toomey Amendment to United States Senate Bill 649.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-04-30 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR164 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR164-Introduced.html
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.
