N.J. families could take guns from kin deemed mentally ill, under Codey plan

A New Jersey lawmaker is introducing legislation that would allow a family member to have guns taken away from a relative who may be mentally unstable.

 

Sen. Dick Codey said last month’s mass shooting in California by a 22-year-old college student prompted him to propose the measure.

“In so many of these cases. the parents felt something was wrong with their children, knew they had guns, but felt there was no way legally they could get the guns out of their possession,” said Codey, D-Essex.

Current New Jersey law requires someone to be involuntary institutionalized before guns can be seized.

Codey’s bill would allow a relative to seek a court order for the confiscation. And a hearing would be held to determine whether the guns can be returned.

Taking those guns away from someone who legally possesses them but seems to have violent tendencies could prevent other mass killings, Codey said.