Healy to praise gun control bill

Monday, December 08, 2008
By JERSEY JOURNAL STAFF

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy is scheduled to testify before the New Jersey Senate's Law, Public Safety & Veterans Affairs Committee during a 10 a.m. hearing today in Trenton regarding one-gun-a-month handgun legislation he has championed.

The Assembly has already passed its version of the bill and if the Senate bill is reported favorably in committee Monday, then it would advance to the full Senate for consideration.

In June 2006, Healy introduced, and the City Council passed, a "One Handgun a Month" ordinance limiting the amount of handguns an individual could purchase to one per month.

With the support of the National Rifle Association, a local gun dealer challenged the ordinance in Superior Court and the ordinance was struck down. The judge ruled that Jersey City was pre-empted by state law from enacting such an ordinance and that the ordinance unreasonably discriminated against Jersey City gun dealers.

That verdict was upheld by the Appellate Division, but the city is appealing to the New Jersey Supreme Court while it also pursues legislative action.

The Senate version of the bill is sponsored by state Sens. Sandra B. Cunningham, D-Jersey City, and Teresa Ruiz, D-Newark.

"Laws that limit the bulk purchases of handguns, such as our 'One Handgun a Month' bill prevent straw purchasers from buying handguns in bulk that they later sell to criminals," Healy said in a statement.

Possible homicide in Hoboken

Hudson Reporter
Dec 4

A 20-year-old man was found dead at Fourth and Harrison streets in Hoboken on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 11:30 p.m., police said today.

Two men were arrested in connection with the death this past week by Hoboken police and were charged with robbery and endangering an injured victim.

Police arrested a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old from Hoboken this past Tuesday, Dec. 2, according to Lt. Det. Charles Campbell.

The Hudson County Prosecutor?s Office has taken over the investigation and is awaiting an autopsy report that could lead to an upgraded charge of homicide if appropriate, said Prosecutor Edward DeFazio on Thursday.

DeFazio said that after a 911 call was made to police, the victim, Carlos Torres, 20, of Jersey City, was found at the scene with ?blunt force trauma to the head.?

He was hospitalized for a few days and died as a result of his injuries.

Check back here later for more updates.