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1993-03-05
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02/25/1993 By HERB JACKSON Associated Press Writer
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The state Assembly voted Thursday after
only 10 minutes of debate to override Gov. Jim Florio's veto of a
bill to weaken the state's ban on semiautomatic weapons. New
Jersey's ban is considered the nation's toughest. The override
measure now goes to the Senate, which has its next voting session
March 15. The New Jersey vote came after a private half-hour GOP
caucus and the only lawmaker who spoke on the issue was Assembly
Democratic leader Joseph Doria, who opposed the override. The 54-23
override vote was the minimum needed and all supporting votes came
from Republicans. Democrats either abstained or voted against the
override. In 1990, New Jersey banned the sale or possession of
semiautomatic firearms capable of holding more than 15 rounds. The
law required all semiautomatic rifles or shotguns not registered for
target shooting to be sold, disabled or surrendered by May 1991.
Recent state reports said only about 2,000 guns were turned in. The
National Rifle Association and other pro-gun groups argued the law
punished law-abiding gun owners by confiscating their property
without compensation. The NRA contributed $269,250 to legislative
candidates in 1991, when Republicans won veto-proof majorities
pledged to repeal the ban. "We're happy and gratified that this step
has been dealt with," said NRA lobbyist Richard Manning. "We've got
300,000 people who are stuck as felons because they possess these
guns. They're honest people." "This vote is a very disturbing answer
to the question of who owns New
Jersey," Florio said. "The answer for the Assembly is the gun lobby in
general and the NRA in particular."
Florio said he was "outraged at this sneak attack on sanity."
Both houses of the Legislature voted last year to repeal the ban for all
affected weapons except Uzis and AK-47s.
Florio vetoed the repeal in September, accusing Republicans of acting
against the public will.