| DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR STATE LEGISLATURE IN DISTRICT 40 DENOUNCE WAYNE GUN RANGE
Wayne, 8 September, 2017 – On August 28, the Wayne Planning Board approved an application for a 15-lane shooting range located at the old Fuddruckers site on Route 23. Since no variance is required, residents within 200 yards of the proposed facility were not notified. The plans call for a “premiere” state-of-the-art facility that will provide users the opportunity to rent and use firearms after watching a short video.
“Filling out a few forms and watching a 5-minute safety video is not sufficient precaution,” said Paul Vagianos. “Just 10 minutes away at a Woodland Park shooting range, 2 men shot and killed themselves last year. Gun ranges do not properly screen people.”
Nearly two-thirds of gun deaths in the United States are suicides, with 6 fatal shootings occurring in New Jersey gun ranges from September 2014 to July 2016. New Jersey law permits gun rentals to anyone with a driver’s license and a companion.
“Municipalities should not approve any gun ranges until Trenton closes this loophole. We must take steps to protect our residents with more than a short safety video,” said Christine Ordway. “During our first session in Trenton, I will sponsor legislation to close this loophole and protect New Jerseyans, while still respecting Second Amendment rights.”
According to the CDC, there were 464 deaths due to firearms and 574 deaths due to motor vehicle accidents in New Jersey in 2014. Nationally, the number of deaths due to firearms is expected to surpass the number of deaths due to motor vehicles in the next several years. |
