At the State House, a sweeping proposal to overhaul and limit the state’s concealed-carry gun law was on the agenda for a vote by lawmakers Monday. It sparked an intense debate, and fierce objections from Republicans who said the bill is unconstitutional. The bill would require gun owners to take training courses and purchase liability insurance, and it would limit where a person could go with a concealed-carry permit.
That wasn’t the only issue to ignite protests in Trenton. Advocates rallied for the Workers Bill of Rights, which has been up for a vote four times now in the Senate. The measure would provide protections for temporary workers, like requiring employers to pay salaries and benefits comparable to traditional workers, require better record-keeping of violations that could pose a risk to workers, and more transparency for workers so they know what hours, pay, time off and safety concerns they can expect with any job. But the vote never came, prompting a demonstration outside the Senate chamber.
