Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen, Passaic)yesterday announced he will be introducing legislation that would allow for gun carry permits for lawful New Jersey citizens. 

The legislation would allow residents who pass the same background checks as judges to get carry permits.

He issued the following statement:

“The introduction of S-1982 created a public ground swell of overwhelming support for extending a similar ‘right to carry’ opportunity well beyond judges and legislators. I have introduced such proposals in the past (such as the ‘Citizens’ Protection Act.’) There was never enough critical mass of public support to move my legislative colleagues to address the issue.

“In light of the public reaction, I am having companion legislation drafted to S-1982 that will allow anyone who passes a background check, similar to that for superior court judges, to likewise bypass the overreaching court-imposed, un-American ‘justifiable need’ provision of our present law.

“I do expect that gun-control extremists will continue to oppose this common sense proposal. For this issue to have a chance for passage, it will require those who support our cause to be as vocal to their own legislators as they have been to me.”

[TLS]