(NJ) Gun background check bill, hailed as "national model," goes to Christie's desk

[Robb]

The New Jersey Senate gave final approval today to a bill overhauling the state’s background check system for gun buyers and imposing new requirements on firearm sales.

It is heading to Governor Christie for approval, although he has not indicated whether he plans to sign it.

Parts of the bill began winding their way through the Legislature shortly after the December shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 children dead. The shooting spurred a national conversation about gun violence and led state legislators to introduce dozens of new bills.

In today’s Senate session, lawmakers approved the background check bill – which Senate President Stephen Sweeney has called a “national model” for gun safety – and several other bills that aim to crack down on gun trafficking and study the causes of violence.

The background check bill passed mostly along party lines, 22 to 16. It would replace the current paper cards and permits needed to buy weapons with digitized cards, either embedded in gun purchasers’ driver’s licenses or issued as a separate card by the state police. It would also require prospective gun buyers to attend a training class and institute background checks for private gun sales — those between two people who are not dealers....

Read More: http://blog.northjersey.com/thepoliticalstate/7832/gun-background-check-bill-hailed-as-national-model-goes-to-christies-desk/

[rdharma]

1. The onus is now on the chubby guy!

I predict he'll pander to the Republican party base and veto the legislation.

Hope I'm wrong.... but I don't have much faith in Christie doing "the right thing"!

If he does sign the bill, it'll be because he thinks it will be to his advantage politically ........ not because it's the right thing to do.

[jimmy the one]

2. christie fit & trim

rdharma: The onus is now on the chubby guy!

begs the Q, how's that stomach stapling working out for him?

I predict he'll pander to the Republican party base and veto the legislation.

I was thinking more along some strategem where he won't do anything, & somehow let it pass (if that's possible) so he could get best of both worlds, not supporting it yet allowing it to pass. Not sure if that's called a pocket veto (attempt), but you get my drifts.

Hope I'm wrong.. but I don't have much faith in Christie doing "the right thing"!

Christie's a pretty decent republican imo, many rightwingers call him rino. He's amongst a few repubs which I would'nt be surprised at all if they switched party to either dem or indy. He gets a bit of flak from the tea party & far right.

If he does sign the bill, it'll be because he thinks it will be to his advantage politically ... not because it's the right thing to do.

With his popularity rating in NJ (& nj support for the gc bill), I cant agree - other than he's not gonna do things to his disadvantage which in most cases means the same thing as doing it to his advantage; I think he's got a comfort zone where he doesn't need cowtow much (even tho he fiddled with the recent special election date etc).
But anyway, I also think it would be to his political advantage to allow bill to pass, since nj public supports it.