A fter hearing about the alarmingly high number of school shootings this year — 74 in 2014 alone — I decided to write a letter to my congressman, Chris Smith (R-NJ). Congressman Smith has refused to co-sponsor a federal bill, HR1565, for expanded background checks on firearms.
This bill would help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, and I wanted to know why he has not supported it publicly.
Congressman Smith’s office responded to my inquiry with an explanation stating that he supported the Brady Handgun Bill in 1993. Thank you, Congressman Smith, for supporting common sense in 1993 — but what about now?
Due to National Rifle Association-influenced politicians, much of the Brady bill has become irrelevant. So, Congressman Smith, stating two-decades-old support of Brady in your response is also irrelevant.
What is relevant is that America leads developed nations in homicide by gun, suicide by gun, mass shootings, accidental death of children by gun, school shootings and women shot by domestic abusers. Where is your current support for gun sense, Congressman Smith?
New Jersey gun laws are strong, but our neighboring states have weak laws and criminals go to those states to acquire weapons.
New Jersey is the No. 1 importer of illegal guns in the nation. These illegal guns ravage our cities, endanger our police and are used to kill our civilians, as evidenced in recent events in Jersey City and West Orange this summer as well as the Short Hills Mall shooting last holiday season.
Federal law is important for New Jersey and should be important to the congressman.
Stop hiding behind what you did in 1993, because it has no impact on today in 2014. Congressman Smith, your New Jersey constituents overwhelmingly support expanded background checks on firearms. Why don’t you?
Francee Tendler
Manalapan