QUIGLEY BILL LIMITING HANDGUN PURCHASES TO ONE A MONTH RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE OK (TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley sponsored to make it illegal to buy more than one handgun a month in New Jersey - a restriction aimed at helping curtail gun access by criminal street gangs – received final legislative approval early this morning. The Senate voted 21-15 to approve the bill. It was approved by the Assembly in June 2008 and now goes to the governor. If enacted, New Jersey would become the fourth state to restrict handgun purchases to one a month, behind Virginia, Maryland, and California. “There’s no good reason why anyone would need to purchase large quantities of handguns all at once,” said Quigley (D-Hudson). “Providing criminals and gang leaders one-stop shopping to outfit themselves with weapons is the obvious implication of bulk handgun purchasing.” Under the bill (A-339), a person who possesses a handgun purchaser permit would be prohibited from buying more than one handgun in New Jersey per calendar month. The measure also would prohibit a retail firearms dealer from knowingly selling more than one handgun to any particular person in a calendar month. The measure would exempt law enforcement agencies and federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who purchase a handgun for use in the actual performance of their law enforcement duties. It also would exempt transfers of guns between licensed retail dealers and licensed firearms collectors. “It defies logic to think anyone would need to purchase two, five, or 20 handguns in a short period of time,” Quigley. “Restricting handgun purchases to one a month will help control the spread guns that wind up on the street and in the hands of criminals.” Violators would be guilty of a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in jail and $10,000 in fines. The bill mirrors a 2006 ordinance adopted by Jersey City which made it illegal to buy or sell more than one handgun a month. The measure was ruled to pre-empt state authority and was struck down by the courts. On the Net: www.assemblydems.comwww.youtube.com/user/njassemblydemsNew Jersey Assembly Democrats on Facebookhttp://www.assemblydems.com/Subscription/SubscriptionSignIn.asp