On the same day as a Quinnipiac University poll released on Jan. 24, 2013, shows that most New Jersey residents favor tougher gun laws, State Senator and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono today called on Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Oliver to hold a special legislative session to pass new measures to reduce gun violence.
To see the article I wrote on that poll, click here.
Buono has favored tougher gun laws and has been consistently challenging Governor Christie on his stance on the issue, one in which he has stated that the states gun laws are already strict enough, and has not been very vocal on the issue. “President Obama and Governor Cuomo have already proposed comprehensive gun safety legislation that will make our streets and our families safer" Buono said
“If Governor Christie refuses to pass meaningful gun safety measures, then New Jersey’s legislature must act,” Senator Buono said. “I urge Senate President Sweeney and Speaker Oliver to hold a special session to pass new laws to stop gun violence and protect our children. I strongly support measures to strengthen reporting and background checks for mental illness and track the sale of ammunition across our state.”
Buono accuses Christie of “catering to right-wing groups who oppose any common sense gun safety laws.” She added that “we must hold him accountable. We must do everything we can to stop gun violence, and the time to act is now.”
From a political standpoint, it will be interesting to see if Sweeney acts on Buono’s recommendation and holds the special session. Doing so would be giving Buono some notability and credibility in her campaign against Christie, the same race that he is considered to be a perspective candidate in himself but does not poll very well and has not yet announced his intentions nor has he endorsed Buono. It is a good political strategy for Buono, painting Sweeney into a corner to act or explain why he won’t do so.
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