By Michael Aron
Chief Political Correspondent
Democrats needed seven Republicans if they were to override the veto. They got just four. The final vote was 50 to 17 with 11 abstentions.
An 80-minute debate began with Republican leader Jon Bramnick proposing that the Democrats work with the governor on a broader approach to firearms and mental illness.
“I ask the speaker today to hold the override and call for a special session immediately with the governor’s cooperation and work together inclusive of a bill very similar to this,” Bramnick said.
The bill at hand would require that if someone who has been committed to a mental facility seeks to get that record expunged in order to purchase a firearm, that the state Attorney General and local police be notified.
The bill passed unanimously here and in the Senate last spring, but Governor Christie conditionally vetoed it and called for a more comprehensive approach.
The Senate garnered sufficient votes last month to override the veto with the help of three Republicans, but the Assembly fell short today. Yesterday’s mass shooting in California hung over the debate.
“Speaker, normally when there’s a national tragedy, or an occurance such as yesterday occurred, we all rise for a moment of silence and we generally offer our thoughts and our prayers. I didn’t come here for a moment of silence. I came here for a moment of action,” said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora.
Republicans said they’ve discovered a loophole in the bill.
“‘If I have a mental health issue in my background and I want to get a firearm and I know I have to get that record expunged, maybe I just don’t say I want to get a firearm,” said Assemblyman Scott Rumana.
Democrats say that loophole can be addressed later.
“If you feel that that should be made stronger, maybe another bill will come later on to do that. But this bill, as it is now, makes the people of New Jersey safer,” said Assemblyman Gordon Johnson.
Democrats reminded the Republicans that the courts had asked for this bill and the legislature unanimously obliged.
“If everybody thought this was the best thing to do six months ago, I always say we have 80 members in this house, 40 in the Senate, 120 members. We all think this is the best thing. We sent it up to the Executive branch. One person decides that it’s no good and we don’t do it. Absolutely not. That’s not Democracy,” said Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto.
They said comprehensive reform can come later. Let’s do this small thing today.
“When we talk about piecemeal verses comprehensive in my experience in this building there are very few things that are done comprehensively,” said Sheila Oliver bite.
With the failure of the override attempt, Speaker Prieto took the bill down and said the Assembly revisit it another day. The governor’s record of never having been overridden on a veto still stands.