TRENTON, NJ – There is a crime wave in New Jersey and across America and Governor Phil Murphy says arming defenseless victims from criminals who don’t follow the state’s gun laws isn’t going to make the state any safer.
Murphy blasted the U.S. Supreme Court over its decision to ban states like New Jersey from harsh restrictions to obtain concealed carry permits. The governor said the court’s ‘right wing’ has undermined his goal to disarm legal, law-abiding gun owners in the Garden State.
“The right-wing majority which currently controls the United States Supreme Court ruled that states, like New Jersey, who believe that careful regulation of firearms makes for safer communities, can no longer control our own destinies,” Murphy said. “The right-wing majority ruled, for the first time in our nation’s history, that individuals have a general right to carry firearms in public, not just in their homes for self-defense.”
Murphy said the decision will not make residents, currently defenseless against the rise in violent crime, homicides, rape and carjacking across the country will not make New Jersey safer.
“Allowing ordinary citizens to carry concealed weapons into stores and malls, on mass transit, in daycare centers and hospitals, in polling places, or in bars and restaurants does not make us safer,” Murphy said. “And it does not make our police safer as they do their jobs. A right to carry a concealed weapon is, in actuality, a recipe for tragedy.”
Over the past two years, Murphy has released thousands of state prisoners, many who were denied parole by the state parole board. Three of those inmates released under the governor’s COVID-19 prison emptying went on to kill five innocent people upon their release. Two committed heinous double homicides.
Letting prisoners out early also doesn’t make New Jersey safer. Nor does it make the job of a police officer any easier.
Instead of allowing law-abiding citizens to arm themselves, Murphy wants to continue disarming residents of New Jersey.
“This decision runs roughshod over these values,” Murphy said. “The right-wing majority has made its decision. As tragic and misguided as it was, we must live with it. That’s how it works in our constitutional system.”
Murphy said the Supreme Court’s constitutional decision, which he admitted was above his pay grade, won’t stop him from disarming New Jersey citizens however possible.
“But that won’t stop us from doing everything in our power to protect our communities and our residents, consistent with this opinion,” Murphy said.
Instead, he called upon the legislator to ban firearms in many public and private settings.
“I look forward to working with my legislative partners to put legislation on my desk to expand the number of places where firearms cannot be carried,” he added.
Those place include:
- Locations where there will be a high density of people, including stadiums and arenas, amusement parks, bars and restaurants where alcohol is served, and public transit, among others.
- Locations with inherently vulnerable populations, such as daycare and child care facilities, hospitals and other health-care centers, and long-term care facilities and nursing homes.
- And buildings where important governmental or First Amendment-protected activities take place, including government buildings and other locations where governmental bodies may meet, polling places, courthouses and police stations, and any places where demonstrations and protests, or licensed gatherings, may occur.
“This legislation should also set a default rule that firearms cannot be carried on to private property unless the property owner expressly communicates their permission – whether it be a shopping mall, a supermarket, or simply their own neighbor’s home,” Murphy said. “That will protect homeowners and businesses who do not want firearms to proliferate in their homes and stores, while fully respecting everyone’s private property rights.”