Lonegan Calls Fellow Second Amendment Supporters To Action

Township of Washington, NJ — Congressional candidate Steve Lonegan issued a call to action today, warning fellow supporters of the Second Amendment of the threat faced by radical Democrats like Phil Murphy and Josh Gottheimer.

“Muphy and Gottheimer won’t stop until they repeal the Bill of Rights.” Lonegan said, “They want to restrict the First Amendment with politically-correct prescriptions and they want to repeal the Second Amendment altogether.”

“Murphy and the Democrats are trying to push a package of anti-Second Amendment legislation through the state Legislature that punishes law-abiding gunowners as a way of addressing crime and lawlessness.  These are the same Democrat legislators who weakened sanctions on criminals in the last session.”

The legislation being moved includes the following:

S102 (Magazine Ban / Gun Ban) Criminalizes possession of magazines that can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. Turns 1 million law-abiding citizens into criminals with the stroke of a pen. No grandfathering of existing magazines (though the Assembly amendment providing for permanent blocking of non-compliant magazines has been adopted in the Senate version). Will be ignored by criminals and madmen. Makes no one safer. Interferes with ability of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves.

S160 (Allows Suspension of Gun Rights by Unaccountable “Health Professionals”) Authorizes firearms seizure and suspension of Second Amendment rights when mental health “professionals” think someone poses risk. Allows marriage counselors, social workers and nurses to cause suspension of rights. Allows forfeiture of firearms without compensation to owner. No penalty for fabricating allegations to harass gun owners.

S2376 (Kills Self-Defense) Cements NJ’s unconstitutional “justifiable need” carry permit standard into statute to prevent most law-abiding citizens from ever exercising the right to self-defense with a firearm outside the home. No one would be eligible for a NJ carry permit unless they had previously been attacked or received specific verifiable threats.

S2245 (Bans Ammunition That is Already Federally Banned) Bans ammunition that is already banned under federal law. Completely redundant with pre-existing law, makes no one safer, criminals will ignore, changes nothing — a complete waste of legislative resources. Squanders an opportunity to severely punish the criminal misuse of ALL ammunition, not just one class of ammunition.

S2374 (Background Checks on Sales That Already Require Background Checks). Mandates background checks on private sales of firearms that already require background checks under state law. Redundant with existing law, makes no one safer, criminals will ignore, changes nothing – a complete waste of legislative resources.

The ANJRPC and other Second Amendment groups are monitoring two additional pieces of legislation:

S2465 (Criminalizes purchase of components to manufacture unserialized firearms) This legislation has not yet been heard in Assembly committee.

S2259 (so-called “extreme risk protection order” legislation) Was held and not passed by the committee, ostensibly to allow time for additional amendments. The bill as currently written provides for the unconstitutional suspension of Second Amendment rights and seizure of firearms with no advance due process. It also fails to penalize those who fabricate allegations simply to harass those with whom they disagree.

“Please contact your legislators about these bills,” Lonegan said, adding:  “I have received the support of strongest Second Amendment legislators in the state, but many others are on the fence and need to hear from us.”

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Mayor Lonegan is one of 14 National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Young Guns “Contenders.” He has been endorsed by U.S. Senator Rand Paul, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Former Presidential Candidate Steve Forbes, Corey Lewandowski, Former Trump Campaign Manager, Dave Bossie, Former Trump Campaign Deputy Campaign Manager, The Tea Party Express, the Republican Liberty Caucus, National Right to Life, Senator Gerry Cardinale, Senator Mike Doherty, Senator Joe Pennacchio, Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblyman Parker Space, Assemblyman Hal Wirths, Assemblyman John DiMaio, Assemblyman Erik Peterson, Assemblywoman Betty Lou DeCroce, Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, Warren County Freeholder Director Richard D. Gardner, Warren County Freeholder Deputy Director Edward J. Smith, Warren County Freeholder Jason J. Sarnoski, Sussex County Freeholder Deputy Director Sylvia Petillo, Sussex County Freeholder Herbert Yardley, Former Sussex County Freeholder Phillip Crabb, Sussex County State Committeewoman Jill Space, the Maywood Republican Club, Mrs. Ann Kievit, President of the Northwest New Jersey Taxpayers’ Association, Rev. Greg Quinlan, President of the Center for Garden State Families on behalf of New Jersey for a Conservative Majority, Alexander Roubian, President of the New Jersey Second Amendment Society (NJ2AS), New Jersey Right to Life PAC, The New Jersey Conservative Party, and The Jewish Voice and Opinion.

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Common-sense conservative Republican Steve Lonegan is a loving father, grandfather, and a successful business owner who will make jobs, term limits, and lower taxes his primary focus as our next congressman. Steve is hardworking, outspoken, and dedicated to you and your family. Steve has a lifelong record of selfless public service. Steve has taken on the tough fights that few others will. Steve and his wife Lorraine (Rossi), who have been longtime parishioners of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bogota, live in Hackensack and have two adult daughters, Katharine and Brooke.