On Capitol Hill in DC, federal efforts to address gun violence have clearly struggled, as evidenced by Senate Republicans killing a bipartisan measure on background checks in the spring. But in the states, a very different kind of picture emerges.
New measures have already been approved in states like Colorado and Delaware, and “Stand Your Ground” policies — which clearly relate to gun violence — are drawing new scrutiny in Florida and Michigan.
And yesterday, reform proponents made some additional progress in New Jersey.
Gov. Chris Christie signed 10 gun bills today, ranging from measures aimed at stiffening penalties for the unlawful possession and smuggling of firearms to requiring the state to submit mental health records to the federal government. […]
The package of bills Christie signed yesterday had for the most part sailed through the Legislature with bipartisan support and without inflaming supporters or opponents of gun control.
Scott Bach, executive of the New Jersey Association of Rifle and Pistol Clubs, said although his group opposed two bills Christie signed, they were not the top priority.
The 10 measures included a new prohibition on firearm purchases from those on the federal terrorist watch list. Most of the other measures stiffened penalties on existing state gun laws.
There are, meanwhile, five other gun bills pending on the governor’s desk, which Christie has neither signed nor vetoed. Not surprisingly, these are the five most controversial — they include a ban on .50 caliber rifles and mandatory safety-training courses for firearm permits — and Christie, who’s on vacation, hasn’t announced his intentions on these additional measures.
As you might imagine, political considerations are fairly important in this process.









