Chris Christie Unveils Sweeping Gun Control Plans

[n2sooners]

Gov. Chris Christie unveiled gun control and violence prevention measures that are as comprehensive as they are ambitious.

Christie acknowledges there is no way to prevent all violence in our society, but he says it is the job of government to question, to scrutinize and to demand more in an attempt to address the problem.

The plan calls for expanding New Jersey’s already strict gun control laws, expanding government-funded mental health treatment, making it more difficult for kids buy or rent violent video games, requiring that would-be gun owners show government-issued IDs and bolstering penalties for gun-related crimes.

“It’s hard for me to sit here today and say, ‘If all these things got imposed we’d see an ‘X’ percentage drop in gin violence in this state.’ I don’t know,” said Christie. “Bad people are going to do bad things and so, would greater penalties deter people? You hope they do.”

Expanding New Jersey’s Already Stringent Gun Control Measures:

New Jersey has the second toughest gun laws in the country. The first facet of Christie’s plan seeks to make them even stricter. This includes banning future purchases of the Barrett .50 Caliber; strengthening the state’s existing background check requirement by mandating that mental health records are included in the instant background check process at the time of a firearm purchase; and requiring firearms purchasers to present a valid government photo ID, along with the already mandatory Firearms Purchaser Identification Card.

Mental Health And Violence:

At the announcement of Christie’s NJ SAFE Taskforce in January in the aftermath of Newtown, he talked about targeting and treating the root causes of violence. Too many times there are instances of unspeakable tragedy and the question is asked how such tragedy could have been prevented. His proposals is this area include;

• Making it easier for health professionals and courts to require potentially dangerous people to receive the treatment they need whether it is in the form of inpatient or outpatient care. This will allow the monitoring of their progress and ensure they are receiving the kind of specific care they need.
  
• Creating flexibility in the type of care an individual is receiving, making it easier for someone to move from inpatient to outpatient settings.
  
• Changing the current standard of involuntary outpatient treatment to eliminate the uncertainty expressed by clinicians and courts regarding their authority to order this type of essential assistance.

Limiting Kids’ Access To Violent Video Games:

According to the Governor, too often lost in the debate about controlling gun violence in our society is the almost constant exposure young children and adults have to graphic violence. Part-three of his plan includes;

• Requiring that retailers post at the point of sale the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ERSB) ratings. Additionally, requiring retailers to develop, maintain and conspicuously display their policy on selling video games with an M or AO rating.
  
• Requiring Consent of a Legal Guardian. This is not different than the kind of parental supervision expected when a child under the age of 18 goes to see an R rated movie, Christie is requiring that a legal guardian provide consent when a minor purchases or rents a video game that has a rating of “Mature” or “Adult Only.”

Increasing Penalties For Gun-Related Crimes:

In a series of bills Christie seeks to impose or strengthen criminal penalties when it comes to selling firearms to convicted criminals, possessing a firearm with the intent to unlawfully transfer, hiring a “straw purchaser,” unlawfully possessing ammunition and engaging in firearms trafficking, among other areas. In addition, Governor Christie is seeking to reform bail laws for gun-related crimes by restricting the release on bail for aggravated firearms offenses and increasing bail requirements for aggravated firearms crimes.

source

Remember when all these talking heads were talking about Christie being a presidential candidate just because he stands up to the media and unions?

 

[abajaj11]

No longer enough to have an R or a D label. Need to see each candidate and what they stand for.
Krispy just made himself irrelevant at the national level.

 

[uncle money bags]

he is relevant to Obama and his followers. Another win for bi-partisanship.

 

[TwoForFlinching]

Don't tell me y'all have lost your "broner" for Christie... Just prior to the election everyone was praising him, insisting that he should run in 2016 based on a good speech someone else wrote for him... Sheeple

 

[n2sooners]

Don't tell me y'all have lost your "broner" for Christie... Just prior to the election everyone was praising him, insisting that he should run in 2016 based on a good speech someone else wrote for him... Sheeple

Ya, it seems like every time someone does something or says something encouraging everyone wants to make them president (or at least conservatives do). I remember when they had the hots for Powell and then they tried to recruit Rice and then Christie. The latest one is that pastor who raked Obama over the coals. But I'm always warning them to check out where they stand on everything and don't fall in love over one speech. Powell turned out to be a big liberal. Christie the same. Rice still isn't interested, but so far no flags have gone up. I think the only thing I might want Christie for is press secretary or maybe union czar, because the only thing I've seen him do that I like is call out reporters who ask stupid questions and stand up to unions. Other than that he is worthless.

 

[farmerbyron]

I am shocked that a governor of New Jersey is anti gun, said no one.

 

[Shadowrider]

Another one bites the dust (presidential candidate). At least hopefully.

I do like Christie's speaking his mind and not giving a crap whether anyone likes it. We need more of that, but that's about all I like about him. What we don't need is a .prez from Joyzee.

 

[ChuckC]

Wonder just how many crimes involving a Barrett 50 cal. have been committed in New Jersey.

 

[Glocktogo]

Just another statist POS as it turns out. Glad he got that out in the open for us.

 

[Cinaet]

Let's see if Jindal and/or Rubio follow suit.