SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — A new study gave New Jersey top marks for efforts to curb gun violence, one of only four states to earn this status.
The national report from the nonprofit Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence found that in 2023, no firearms dealers in New Jersey were cited by the federal government for selling a high volume of guns that were later used in crimes. It's the second year in a row the state received this recognition.
"New Jersey is a leader on gun safety policies, with some of the strongest gun laws in the country — and the third-lowest rate of firearm deaths," read the report.
"Last year we had the lowest number of shootings in New Jersey since we've been tracking them," said Attorney General Matt Platkin. For him, the report proves all of his office's hard work is paying off.
"We have the strongest gun laws in the country, and I'm proud of that. We have successfully defended them against every single challenge that has come our way, and we will continue to do so," he said.
Platkin says his office has approached gun violence from every angle they can think of, including strong laws, enforcement, policing, community engagement, and holding manufacturers accountable.
"Then we use those laws," he said. "We use them to hold accountable violent, serially violent people who are causing havoc in our communities."
Platkin said he's also encouraged by a recent study that proves the viability of microstamping technology, which gives law enforcement additional tools to match guns with shell casings found at the scene of a crime. He urged gun manufacturers to adopt the technology and make it widely available.
