Alphecca: NJ Gripes About Guns!

December 29, 2005

NJ Gripes About Guns!

Seems to be the theme these days. From New Jersey Journal:

Experts blame guns and gangs for this year's spike in homicides in Hudson County.

There have been 50 homicides in Hudson County this year, the highest total since 1989. Nearly half the homicides - 23 out of 50 - were shooting deaths, records show.

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio blamed "the availability and access to hand guns, especially semiautomatic pistols.

"There are just too many (guns) out there," he said.

New Jersey has relatively strict gun control laws, but criminals can drive to Pennsylvania and purchase several firearms with little scrutiny, he said.

Combine the availability of guns with an increase in the number of gang members and New Jersey's inner cities have become shooting galleries, said Michael Wagers, director of the Police Institute at Rutgers University.

[...]

Statewide, there are nearly 17,000 gang members and some 700 gangs in New Jersey, and about 17 percent of all reported homicides in New Jersey involve gang members, according to state officials.

Oh. 17,000 gang members. I didn't notice the check-off box for them in the last census but seriously -- isn't the problem with the gangs? If the problem is that criminals -- that would be these gang members -- are killing people with firearms then maybe the cops should be going after the gang members.

Blaming gun crime on the gun is like blaming drunk driving on the car. And if you start to tell me that if there were no guns... Fine: Let's solve the drunk driving problem by getting rid of all cars.

Posted by Jeff Soyer at December 29, 2005 11:42 AM

Comments

Hudson County is also the most Democrat-run county is the state. Brendan "We've been byrned" Byrne, a past Governor, was actually quoted as saying that when he died he wanted to be buried in Hudson County so he could stay active in politics.

This is the county with Jersey City, Union City, Hoboken - the town so corrupt it is safe and boyhood home of Frank Sinatra. As well as such vacation destinations as Secaucus, Bayonne and Guttenberg.

No surprise here.

Posted by: tomWright at December 29, 2005 01:45 PM

...but criminals can drive to Pennsylvania and purchase several firearms with little scrutiny...

Someone wanna give me a hand hoisting the bullshit flag on this one? My arms are pretty tired these days.

Posted by: Bruce at December 29, 2005 06:31 PM

Last time I checked, PA still runs the instant background check on all firearm purchases. PA does have reciprocity with NJ for long guns, but a NJ resident must still have a NJ FOID to buy a long gun in PA.

Also, isn't everyone restricted to buying handguns in their home state?

Posted by: john at December 29, 2005 11:45 PM

Also, isn't everyone restricted to buying handguns in their home state?

With the exception of those who fall into the "criminals illegally purchasing illegally obtained handguns from other criminals" category, yes.

Posted by: Bruce at December 30, 2005 07:15 AM

"Also, isn't everyone restricted to buying handguns in their home state?"

I *think* that there is one exception: A C&R license allows the holder to purchase "Curio & Relic" firearms across state lines.

However, I SERIOUSLY doubt that gangbangers are doing drive-by shootings with Lugers and broomhandled Mausers...

Posted by: Jay G at December 30, 2005 08:56 AM

I believe you can purchase a gun in any state, complying with that states laws, but it needs to be shipped via UPS/FedEx to an FFL in your state, where that states regulations are then applied.

You are correct in that you can not both purchase and TAKE POSSESSION in another state.

I could be wrong though.

Posted by: tomWright at December 30, 2005 02:53 PM

Tom is right. I'm buying my Taurus Pistol in NH and it will be transfered to an FFL in VT who will do the NICS check and hand it to me.

Posted by: Jeff Soyer at December 30, 2005 03:42 PM

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December 29, 2005

NJ Gripes About Guns!

By Golly, you're reading an archived post. Click Here to head to the main page and read current stuff...

Check it out:

My group sci-fi blog novel:

Colony: Alchibah