To the chagrin of many pro-gun control advocates, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a 10-round magazine limit bill on Wednesday. (Photo: Yeshiva World News)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took a stand for Garden State gun owners on Wednesday, vetoing a bill that would have reduced the state’s limit on magazine capacity from 15 rounds down to 10.
Christie attacked the bill, A2006/S993, as “grandstanding reform” insinuating that the bill was nothing more than feel-good legislation that would do nothing to reduce gun-related crime.
“It simply defies common sense to believe that imposing a new and entirely arbitrary number of bullets that can be lawfully loaded into a firearm will somehow eradicate, or even reduce, future instances of mass violence,” Christie told reporters. “Nor is it sufficient to claim that a ten-round capacity might spare an eleventh victim.”
Instead of focusing on the number of rounds law-abiding gun owners can place in their lawfully obtained firearms, Christie suggested that lawmakers should focus on ways to address those suffering with mental illness, especially those who are a danger to themselves and others.
“Mass violence will not end by changing the number of bullets loaded into a gun,” explained the Republican governor. “It will end with a serious commitment to elevating our response to mental illness, a declaration that we will not let our discomfort with this disease threaten our children, our families, and our communities.”
To that end, Christie has proposed policy to streamline the process for involuntarily committing potentially dangerous individuals, improve the standards for involuntary outpatient treatment and better train first responders to confront and identify those suffering with mental health issues.
The nation’s gun lobby, which vehemently opposed the measure on the grounds that it would be ineffective at reducing gun crime, was very pleased with Christie’s decision.
“The Obama-Bloomberg gun control schemes only restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens without making anyone safer,” said Catherine Mortensen, a spokesperson for the NRA in an email to Guns America. “The NRA applauds Gov. Christie’s veto of the proposed restriction on magazines in New Jersey.”
Not surprisingly, gun-control groups were displeased with the veto believing that prohibiting law-abiding citizens from owning magazines holding more than 10 rounds would somehow keep criminals, drug dealers and sociopaths from obtaining the millions and millions of 10-plus round magazines already in circulation not only around the country but the world.
“Governor Christie has chosen to put gun industry profits ahead of saving lives,” said Violence Policy Center Legislative Director Kristen Rand in a press release.
“A ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines would protect law enforcement and the general public, and it would limit the firepower available to criminals and mass shooters,” she continued. “By vetoing this bill, Governor Christie has turned his back on an opportunity to improve public safety in communities across the state.”
I am not a real fan of Gov. Christie, but he makes a lot of sense on this subject in a time where common sense seems to be out of date. I qualify twice a year with a guy that carries a 1911, while everyone else is carrying Glocks. We are timed, and I have never seen him lack meeting the time line even though he has to change a clip every eight rounds. In fact he is always with in the top five fastest qualifiers, and many times the fastest. I have drawn the station next to him several times, and there is no discernible break in his shot pattern when changing clips. I’ve also seen his scores, know some of his history, and would welcome him and his antiquated gun beside me in any shooting situation.
If the magazine restriction is taken to its logical conclusion we’ll end up at zero
It is quite obvious that people like Kristen Rand know nothing about the firearms that they are trying to regulate because if she did then it would be obvious that her reasoning to limit magazines from the current New Jersey 15 rounds to 10 rounds would have absolutely no affect on the criminal shootings, as Gov. Christie stated. The criminal would just bring more magazines with them. It takes approx. 3 seconds, or less, to drop the empty magazine and load a full one into the weapon, cycle the slide, and start shooting again. So if you reduce the capacity of the magazine the shooter just brings more of them and reloads more often. I mean what is the difference two 15 round mags or 3 10 round mags?
It seems to me that if you are going to take a stand and fight against something, or try to regulate something that you should make an effort to know something about it, don’t you think? Then of course if they had any knowledge and personal experience with firearms then they would probably not be trying to regulate, or eliminate them, but the criminal instead.
It’s not about guns per se, but control and power
FINALLY, Governor Christie did something that makes sense. If they do reduce mag capacity to 10 rds., well then law abiding gunowners will have 10 rd mags for defense and criminals will still have 30rd mags. The DO NOT obey laws.
I think Christie is trying to portray himself as a second amendment supporter to gun owners. Too Little/Too Late.
Please tell me we don’t have to choose between Christie and Jeb Bush in 2016.