Christie Vetoes Gun Magazine Reduction Bill

Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a gun control bill Wednesday that would have banned ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds, saying the state should rather catch potential mass shooters and treat them for mental illness.

In his veto message, the Republican governor rejected the idea that limiting the number of bullets that guns can hold will put an end to mass shootings, calling it a “simplistic” and “trivial” approach.

In the bill’s place, Christie called for a series of reforms to mental illness treatment, including a new standard that would make it easier to commit people involuntarily.

“Mass violence will not end by changing the number of bullets loaded into a gun,” said Christie, whose stance on guns is being watched closely ahead of a potential run for president in 2016.

Supporters of the bill have argued the limit would make mass shootings less deadly by requiring shooters to stop to reload more often, giving police and potential victims more time to react.

Christie signed several firearms bills into law last year, but he issued conditional vetoes of some of the more contentious ones, including a ban on .50-caliber rifles.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the July 4th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.