- New wording would be added to the gun regulatory process that would make it easier for applicants to show they have a “justifiable need” to carry a handgun.
- Establish a database that would track how long it takes New Jersey towns to process a gun permit, after a special Christie-appointed panel found that towns were not processing gun permits within the state timeframe
- Allow those who are transporting unloaded guns in their vehicles to make routine or emergency stops
Are these changes to the law really necessary? According to the governor, definitely. Christie says the current restrictions in place have led to the murder of South Jersey resident Carol Bowne. Last June, Bowne was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend. Two months prior, she had filed papers for a handgun permit with the local police department. Current state law requires the police to respond to a permit within 30 days – however, Bowne was still waiting for a decision at the time of her death.
The former presidential candidate had gotten a lot of slack on the campaign trail this winter for not being conservative enough, especially when it came to gun control. And although the state Legislature had repeatedly refused to accept changes that would weaken current laws, Christie and the state Attorney General’s Office moved to make the changes through the state regulatory process, thus avoiding the Legislature.
How do you feel about Christie’s new policy? Let us know in the comments section below.
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