Monday, April 22, 2013

Governor Christie Has a Plan for Gun Violence



The Herald

Gov. Chris Christie on Friday unveiled a multi-faceted plan to curb gun violence in New Jersey that includes expanding government-funded mental health treatment, requiring parental sign-off before children can buy or rent violent video games, and mandating that ID presented by would-be gun-owners is government-issued.

The Republican's plan also includes a ban on the sale of Barrett .50-caliber semi-automatic sniper rifles, bail reforms that would make it harder for people suspected of violent gun crimes to be released, and provisions to make it easier for courts and health care professionals to involuntarily commit people they consider violent to a psychiatric hospital.

The plan does not address classroom security or propose stricter limits on the capacity of ammunition magazines, which in New Jersey stands at 15 rounds. 

I like it.  What do you think?

11 comments:

  1. Well, if the whole thing passes, the police SWAT teams in Jersey can say goodbye to any further purchases from Barrett.

    That's about the dumbest ban that your side hyperventilates about.

    Regardless of the merits of any other parts of the package, including that Barret Ban will likely kill his chances of winning the Republican nomination.

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  2. I'm guessing that swat teams are not buying huge quantities of .50 cal sniper rifles - given the state of Jersey's finances. But if they do need to do so, I'm reasonably sure there is a law enforcement exemption. It appears to be more of an effort to stop the private arms race, not LEOs being well armed.

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    1. Dog Gone, It's not a matter of a law enforcement exemption, it's a matter of Barret refusing to sell anything to them. And Barret makes more than just big fifties.

      As for the Private Arms Race you're talking about--I've seen a whole lot of hyperventilating from your side about .50 calibers, but people don't seem to be misusing them anywhere near as much as you've told us they would. After all, aren't they supposed to shoot jet liners out of the sky, and Jesse Jackson told us they could take out Trains! Trains, by God!

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    2. Oh, Dog Gone, you only deepen your ignorance by being unwilling to learn anything. Ronnie Barrett sent a letter to the State of California when that benighted people's republic banned private ownership of .50 rifles. His letter informed the state that he was cancelling contracts with public agencies, since they were violating the rights of the citizens.

      The good news is that more and more gun makers are going along with this idea. Cops should be no better armed than the people they claim to protect.

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    3. The exemption doesn't matter. Barrett won't sell to them out of principle.

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    4. Wouldn't matter. Barrett will just do to New Jersey what they've done to New York and California if this ban passes.

      http://barrett.net/news/11

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    5. Dog Gone,

      What he's talking about is that when California banned private possession of firearms using the .50BMG, Barrett made the decision to refuse to sell or service Barrett products to law enforcement in California.

      http://gunowners.org/op0304.htm

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  3. Of course, you like it, Mikeb. Except for expanding mental health care facilities, everything in it is either a waste of time or a violation of rights.

    1. Video games are covered by the First Amendment, and the evidence about whether "violent" games make players violent is thin at best.

    2. Gun buyers have to use a government-issued ID? Well, golly, I guess they can't use their Orphan Annie decoder rings any more. Come on, where are people using library cards and so forth in buying a gun?

    3. Because .50 Barrett rifles have been used in how many crimes? Oh, sure, the average gangbanger is going to shove a thirty-pound, four-foot rifle down his saggy pants--when he can come up with the $8,000 or so that one costs. And when he can come up with the $5 a round.

    4. Make it harder for some suspects to be released on bail? Sounds like special treatment. And if a thug beats someone with a brick, well, that's not violent enough to warrant keeping the guy locked up for trial.

    5. Make it easier to commit people against their will when some shrink claims the person is dangerous? I prefer due process with lots of hurdles for the government to overcome, thanks.

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  4. Is there any documented crimes in the US where a Barrett .50 caliber was used ever? If not, then what is the point? You can't reduce the crime any less than zero.

    But ya, no one is wanting to take away your guns.

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  5. The Barrett is probably already banned under their "assault weapon" language (semi-Auto, pistol grip, etc.) Perhaps he is talking about a broader ban of all firearms chambered in .50BMG (including bolt-actions) like California has- which has saved countless lives, by the way. Literally. You can’t count it since it is zero- because that is how many people have been killed with a .50BMG. I will also note the .50BMG is a bone that you have thrown to us in the past. Are you saying you like those bans now, Mike?

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  6. Given the fact that 11 children ran from their classroom while the killer reloaded, that proves to me the intelligence of banning high capacity mags., ii children are alive because he had to reload. He has some good ideas, but still lacks serious, helpful legislation. I'm sure the gun nut Republicans will chide him for his ideas, and maybe he should change parties. Polls show Americans overwhelmingly support background checks, limited capacity mags., and other serious ideas; but is not a top priority for most Americans, even if they believe in those ideas. Well, it's obvious we need to keep this issue in the public eye and continue to allow gun nuts to spew their nutty ideas and let Americans hear their nutty ideas daily.

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