Pallone, Watson Coleman, Local Leaders and Advocates Call on Congress to Combat Gun Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2017



NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ– Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (LD-15), Highland Park Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler and advocates for reducing gun violence held a press conference calling for action in the aftermath of the tragic shooting in Las Vegas. East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen and representatives from The Coalition for Peace Action, NJ Million Mom March, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, New Jersey State Nurses Association, New Jersey American Academy of Pediatrics and Moms Demand Action expressed their support for reducing gun violence at the event.

The press conference focused on the impact that gun violence has had on different communities throughout the country. Pallone and Watson Coleman called on Congressional Republicans to support common sense measures such as banning those on the terrorist watch list from purchasing firearms, banning assault weapons and requiring ID for online ammunition sales.

“The plague of gun violence in our communities is completely unacceptable,” said Pallone. “As Members of Congress, it is not enough to ask for a moment of silence. It is not enough to express our thoughts and prayers. It is not enough to call for action, we must enact change. We are far beyond the point as lawmakers and as Americans at which we must answer a basic question: Can we stand up to special interests and enact the sensible, bipartisan gun reforms that a majority of Americans want and can save lives? We owe the victims of the horrific tragedies in Las Vegas, Orlando, Newtown and so many more who face less headline-grabbing gun violence in their communities every day a meaningful policy change to reduce these tragedies.”

“Sensible gun safety reform and the fight to achieve it have literal life-and-death consequences,” said Watson Coleman. “We cannot pass up another blatant opportunity to pass bipartisan, common sense gun legislation that would not only make our communities safer but also safe-guard families nationwide from the heartbreak and devastation of losing a loved one to gun violence. Stubborn adherence to an agenda without thinking through what could change to make us safer is the height of irresponsibility. New Jerseyans did not send me to Washington simply to mourn them when they get shot; they sent me here to protect them -- it is our job as Members of Congress job to fix our current broken, fatal system of gun laws.”

Watson Coleman introduced and Pallone co-sponsored The Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act, which requires federally licensed ammunitions dealers to confirm the identity of individuals who arrange to purchase ammunition over the internet by verifying their identity in person with a photo I.D. The bill also requires ammunition vendors to report any sales of more than 1,000 rounds within five consecutive days to the U.S. Attorney General if the person purchasing ammunition is not a licensed dealer.

As the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee Congressman Pallone has been a leader in the fight to eliminate the ban on research on the public health impact of gun violence at the CDC and NIH. He is a cosponsor of the Gun Violence Research Act, which would repeal current ban on that research.

Christie vetoes pending bills

From PolitickerNJ:


TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie announced vetoing eight pieces of pending legislation Friday afertnoon.

The following bills were written off by the governor:

SCS for S-968, 1494/A998 (Weinberg, Turner/Vainieri Huttle, Watson Coleman) – ABSOLUTE - Establishes procedures and standards regarding public service privatization contracts

S2188/A3775 (Gordon,Weinberg/Wagner,Eustace,DeAngelo,Benson) – ABSOLUTE – Requires employer notification when relocating call center services outside the United States

S2644/A4233 (Vitale, Gill, Weinberg/Oliver, Prieto, Quijano) – ABSOLUTE - Expands Medicaid eligibility pursuant to federal “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”

S2825/A4172 (Weinberg, Greenstein, Sarlo/Mosquera, Lampitt, Stender, Jasey, Watson Colman, Wisniewski, Caride) - ABSOLUTE – Makes FY 2013 supplemental appropriation to DOH for $7,453,000 for family planning services

A3668/SCS for S2467, 2471 (Jasey, McKeon, Cryan, Johnson, Quijano/Gill, Weinberg, Codey) -ABSOLUTE – Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in companies manufacturing, importing, and selling assault firearms for civilians use

A3807/S2595 (Caputo, Tucker, Wagner, Eustace/Rice, Gill) – ABSOLUTE – ‟Corporate Disinvestment Property Tax Relief Act”; appropriates $13.5 million

A3878/S2673 (Conaway, Riley, Lampitt, Eustace/Gill) – ABSOLUTE- Requires Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to establish public awareness campaign about new federally required health insurance exchange

A4171/S2824 (Wagner, Vainieri Huttle, Stender, Quijano, Eustace/Weinberg, Gill) – ABSOLUTE - Provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level

Christie said regarding all of the bills vetoed that they “would deplete the state’s fiscal resources, restructure government in a significant manner, and significantly alter the policy and spending priorities set forth in the Appropriations Act.’’

He said they would have added hundreds of millions of dollars to state and local budgets. He said that although individual bills may have had merits they should have been negotiated as part of the overall budget negotiation process.

President Obama's Weekly Address 3/23/13: Helping Protect Our Kids by Reducing Gun Violence

Three months after the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, President Obama says that the Senate has taken important steps forward to help protect our kids by reducing gun violence. The American people made their voices heard, and the Senate made progress to make it harder for criminals and people with serious mental illnesses to get guns, to crack down on anyone trying to funnel guns to criminals, and to reinstate and strengthen a ban on the sale of military-style assault weapons. Each of these ideas deserves a vote.

Pallone to Speak at Anti-Gun Violence Rally

LONG BRANCH, NJ—Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) will be a featured speaker at the “One Million Moms for Gun Control” rally being held in Jersey City, NJ on Saturday, January 26, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pallone will address his support of efforts to curb gun violence in New Jersey and throughout the nation.

“It is unconscionable that so many people have had to die or be injured in our country to bring about a change in our approach to gun violence, but now is the time to move forward with a plan for common sense solutions to a problem that can impact any one of us,” said Pallone. “I have long stood in support of reasonable gun laws that protect innocent victims and we can not wait for yet another tragedy to prompt us into action. We need to act now.”

Pallone, an ardent advocate of anti-gun violence laws has been vocal in his support of the now expired 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and is a co-sponsor of a the soon to be introduced modernized version the bill. He is also co-sponsor of a bill to close the so called “Gun Show Loophole,” which allows purchasers at gun shows to avoid background checks before gun sales. The Congressman also voiced his early support of Vice President Biden’s recent recommendations to President Obama on an approach to limit gun violence, as well as limits on high capacity ammunition clips and universal background checks for gun purchases.

“As the senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, which has sole jurisdiction over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I look forward to playing an active role in addressing to our mental health system and I look forward to advocating for detailed study of gun

President Obama's Weekly Address 1/19/13: Now Is The Time to Take Action Against Gun Violence

President Obama reiterates his commitment to do everything in his power to implement a series of common sense measures that would reduce gun violence in America. The President started off that effort with 23 concrete actions his Administration is taking immediately under its existing legal authority. But to have a lasting impact, Congress must join the administration by passing common sense laws like requiring a universal background check for anyone trying to buy a gun, and restoring a ban on military-style assault weapons and a 10-round limit for magazines. If they do that, we can respect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens while helping to keep the irresponsible few from causing massive harm.

Rep. Pallone Statement on the President’s Plan to Reduce Gun Violence

WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today released the following statement on the President’s recommendations to reduce gun violence:

“More than one month ago when 26 children and staff were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School, our hearts were broken. It was not the first time we have mourned a mass shooting, but we should do everything in our capacity to make it the last by taking meaningful action to prevent gun violence. We owe it to the memories of those lost, the families of the victims and to our children who deserve to feel safe in our communities.

“I applaud the common sense reforms outlined by the President, including universal background checks and banning military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that have no place on our streets. As the Senior Democrat on the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, which has jurisdiction over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I agree that improving our mental health system and studying gun violence should be priorities.

“I am ever-hopeful that Congress can put aside party differences and come together to take steps that will prevent senseless violence and make our communities safer. I join President Obama and Vice President Biden in asking my colleagues in Congress to do the right thing.”