PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Gun owners in New Jersey could soon be required to buy liability insurance with their concealed carry permit. Democrats in Trenton have proposed a new bill that would strengthen the most strict gun rules in the nation.
It also gives police more discretion in denying permit applications, and it creates a list of public and private places where guns would be prohibited. State Rep. Lou Greenwald, D-Voorhees, said just about any place you can think of is included.
“Schools, government buildings, polling places. Trying not to mix drugs with alcohol, so bars and restaurants where alcohol is served,” he said. “Theaters, sporting arenas, parks, airports, casinos in New Jersey and child care facilities.”
Related
Greenwald added that no other state requires this insurance, and it’s not clear how much it would cost.
“I anticipate that all of this will be very reasonable. And it’s like any other activity that we participate in, the insurance is driven by the cost and the risk factor,” he said.
Related
He said this is all common sense legislation and legal gun owners should support the safety this bill is intended to provide.
Republicans are unlikely to support the bill, but it can pass without any GOP votes due to the Democratic majority. The bill is scheduled for committee hearings next week, then a full vote after that.
Related
Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs Executive Director Scott Bach said this is like giving the middle finger to the U.S. Supreme Court, and his group looks forward to overturning the measures in court and having the state pay his legal fees.
The bill comes months after the Supreme Court ruled in June that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense, a ruling likely to lead to more people being legally armed. Their decision struck down a New York law requiring people to demonstrate a particular need for carrying a gun in order to get a license to carry a gun in a concealed way in public.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.