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Chris Christie Will Keep Pardoning Non-Residents Who Bring Guns to New Jersey Illegally

The New Jersey governor opposes federal legislation that would require New Jersey to recognize carry permits from other states, but said he would consider a bill to change New Jersey’s “illogical” law to recognize permits from other states if the Democrats who control the Legislature send him one.

Governor Christie said he’ll continue to issue pardons to out-of-state residents who bring their legally obtained handguns into New Jersey against state laws, but he’s still against a measure before Congress that would require New Jersey to recognize carry permits from other states.

While Christie opposes the federal legislation, he said he would consider a bill to change New Jersey’s “illogical” law to recognize permits from other states if the Democrats who control the Legislature send him one. Until then, he said his hands are tied.

“I’d be happy to consider changes to those laws if sent to me by the Legislature,” Christie said Thursday during a State House news conference about Hurricane Joaquin. “Instead all I’ve gotten from the Legislature are ways to make New Jersey’s gun laws even more unreasonable.”

But lawyers who have handled numerous gun cases in the state say there are steps Christie could take without lawmakers, including directives issued by the attorney general – like a clarification written last year – on how prosecutors should handle such cases.

 

Daniel Luzer is GOVERNING's news editor.
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