Gun rights advocates plan N.J. rallies against stricter controls

Advocates of gun rights will be holding rallies around New Jersey over the weekend to protest gun-control measures under consideration in the Legislature.

 

Bill Haney, the founder of the West Jersey Tea Party, is organizing one of the protests set for Burlington County.

The bills passed by the Assembly in February trample the rights of gun owners and won’t control violence, he said.

“The people who are going to commit crimes are predisposed to commit crimes. They’re the criminals. They’re the ones that we need to get the guns out of their hands.

“Not law-abiding citizens. Not people who work every day, who are gun enthusiasts, hunters, just target shooters,” he said.

Sponsors of the legislation say the bills, including measures to ban armor-piercing bullets and most long-range .50-caliber rifles, are common-sense measures to help protect communities.

The Senate has not yet acted on the bills.

Gov. Chris Christie is expected to make his own proposals within a few days in response to the 50 recommendations of his task force on guns and violence.