LESNIAK-TURNER 'VIOLENCE COMMISSION' LEGISLATION SCHEDULED FOR COMMITTEE HEARING

Measure Scheduled to Be Heard in Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on January 28

TRENTON – A landmark bill sponsored by Senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Shirley K. Turner which would declare violence as a “public health crisis,” would empanel a commission to look at ways to mitigate violence, and would recommend the federal adoption of stricter gun control standards is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on January 28.

“We can no longer turn a blind eye to the violence that’s taking place daily on our streets and in our communities,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “This is about taking a multi-pronged approach to reducing violence in New Jersey, whether it’s providing greater access to mental health treatment, leveraging federal funds from the CDC, or advocating on behalf of stricter gun controls along the lines of what President Obama announced yesterday. It’s past time that we incorporate a proactive, comprehensive strategy to keeping New Jersey residents safe.”

“Gun violence and other forms of violence perpetrated against New Jersey residents has reached epidemic proportions, and failure to respond is in essence shirking our responsibility to serve the public,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer and Hunterdon. “This bill recognizes that there is no single cure-all to reduce violence, but rather, a whole host of things that we can do as a State to better protect our residents. If we can protect one New Jerseyan – if we can save one life – then this effort is worth making.”

Click here to read the rest of Senator Lesniak's and Senator Turner's news release.