TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney believes that Republican state Senator Tom Kean’s (R-21) “compromise” gun control plan “stigmatizes people with mental health.”
Kean unveiled his plan last week. This comes after Governor Chris Christie’s veto of a plan that was unanimously supported in the legislature that would require law enforcement notification when those pursuing gun ownership attempt to expunge certain mental health conditions from their record.
“This is a very simple bill,” Sweeney said. “It is the most common sense piece of legislation I have ever worked on.”
Because the bill is so “common sense” Sweeney said he feels that a compromise plan is redundant. Furthermore, he said that certain mental health advocacy groups in the state have issue with the compromise plan’s language.
Sweeney said that he plans to pursue another override vote on the veto at a Senate hearing on Thursday. He also said that, for now, he will not be considering the new plan.
As Governor Christie pursues a Republican presidential bid, it is possible that his veto stems from a desire to not alienate the ardent gun support among many voters on the right.
