By Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron
NJ Today
The media were out in force for Gov. Chris Christie and Jon Bon Jovi’s visit to the Turning Point Drug Rehabilitation Program in Paterson.
Christie signed the Good Samaritan bill here today. It grants immunity to anyone who calls 911 to summon help for an overdose subject.
About two dozen parents who have lost children to drugs were in attendance.
Pamela Sanquini’s son Matthew died of an overdose of Oxycontin three years ago tonight.
“He was with several individuals that evening that could have saved his life but they were afraid to do the right thing and make the right phone ca to get him help . If this law had been in place three years ago this evening, my son Matt would still be here today,” Sanquini said.
“My daughter Brooke died of a drug overdose almost a year ago May 8,” said Summit resident Jill Ann LaZare. “It’s my position that with this bill, had it been in effect at the time, my daughter may very well be here today,” said.
“As a father of four children, there but for the grace of God go I,” Christie said.
Christie said the purpose of the bill is to save lives.
“It encourages witnesses and victims of overdose to act without fear of arrest and prosecution when they know someone has overdosed,” the governor said.
Bon Jovi has a 19-year-old daughter who overdosed not long ago. That reportedly woke him up to the problem, but he did not allude to that today in his brief remarks.
“I just briefly wanted to thank Gov. Christie and the members of the New Jersey legislature for reconsidering their position on this important issue that will truly affect the lives of many across our state,” Bon Jovi said.
Christie conditionally vetoed the Good Samaritan bill six months ago and called for an 18-month study of the issue. Asked today what changed his mind, he said he initially approached it as a former prosecutor with concerns about leniency toward drug use.
“I think if we made any mistakes in the first go-round was that we looked at it too heavily from that perspective and didn’t include a lot more perspectives in it to see how it all balanced out,” Christie said.
The bill also authorizes families to keep anti-opiate medication in their homes.
Christie said the message to young people should be clear.
“The leaders of this state want them to save a life first and not worry about anything else thereafter,” he said.