It’s the urban Palisades against the Mountain Man Appalachian foothills.

Gun control legislation dropped this week by Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez (D-32) just set up a high noon Statehouse showdown with Jimenez’s GOP rival on the far west side of the state.

Crafted in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shooting massacre, the Hudson County-based Jimenez’s legislation would require psychological evaluations and home inspections of prospective gun purchasers.

Movement conservative Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose (R-24) promptly took aim at the bill.

“The Second Amendment is part of the Bill of Rights of our Constitution,” McHose said. “The Bill of Rights is an American birthright. It is not something granted to you by government after an inspection. It is not a privilege.  It is a right. 

“Driving an automobile is a privilege,” added the Republican assemblywoman. “Forty-thousand people die in auto accidents each year. So I'm wondering why Assemblywoman Jimenez hasn't dropped legislation that ‘requires psychological evaluation and in-home inspection as prerequisite to purchase’ an automobile?  I'll be interested in examining the criteria of these in-home inspections that she is proposing.”