After recent spikes in gun violence, both in the state and across the country, Gov. Phil Murphy Thursday laid out a dozen new gun control measures — combining legislation and executive actions — saying they will solidify New Jersey’s standing as having the toughest gun restrictions in the nation. Among the proposals, the state would require firearm safety training for anyone applying for a permit, raise the minimum age to purchase all firearms to 21 and require electronic record-keeping to trace every round of ammunition. The proposals include a ban on the sale of all 50-caliber firearms.
Murphy is also directing the state Department of Education to reform active shooter drills, to minimize trauma. He made the announcement in Newark while pointing to statistics showing that cities are disproportionately affected by gun violence. Half of the state’s gun-related deaths last year came in five cities. He also proposed $10 million from the state budget to invest in group violence intervention.
Aqeela Sherrils, director of the Newark Community Street Team, the city’s community-based violence reduction initiative, discusses how investment in community-based interventions can reduce gun violence.
