LD39 Candidates Schwager, Chung and Hausmann Call for
Common Sense Gun Safety Measures

NRA-Approved Tea Party Extremists Cardinale, Schepisi and Auth Stood with Christie
Against Efforts to Keep our Communities Safe

WESTWOOD – Linda Schwager, Jannie Chung and Annie Hausmann, candidates for Legislative District 39, today called for common sense gun safety measures to keep our homes, schools and communities safe. In the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, one that left 59 dead and more than 500 injured in Las Vegas, the candidates said that a smarter, tougher approach to gun safety is necessary to protect New Jersey families and children.

“We offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to the victims, their families and all those affected by the senseless tragedy in Las Vegas,” said Linda Schwager, candidate for Senate. “This is yet another reminder that we need sensible gun safety policies to end the epidemic of gun violence in our communities.”

“Common sense gun safety measures have broad, near universal support among New Jersey families,” said Jannie Chung, candidate for Assembly. “Now is not the time for inaction. We have to get smarter and tougher on gun safety to protect our families and children.”

“As we have seen all too often, these horrific mass shootings can happen anytime and anywhere,” said Annie Hausmann, candidate for Assembly. “There is no reason for anyone to have such easy access to military-grade automatic weapons that can quickly kill so many innocent people.”

Schwager, Chung and Hausmann said they support a range of sensible proposals to prevent gun violence, which takes the lives of more than 36,000 Americans each year. The candidates back several bipartisan bills that would protect New Jersey families, yet were vetoed by Governor Chris Christie, including a ban on the sale of military-style .50 caliber semi-automatic rifles, which Christie previously proposed himself in the aftermath of the Newtown, CT tragedy. Christie also vetoed reducing the size of gun magazines and a bill that would keep guns out of the hands of gang members and those convicted of making terrorist threats.

Schwager, Chung and Hausmann also say it is “common sense” to require those who want to purchase a gun to attend gun safety classes. Additionally, they said New Jersey should encourage the gun industry to adopt smart gun technology that would prevent individuals from using a firearm without authorization.

Time and again, NRA-Endorsed Tea Party Extremists Senator Gerald Cardinale, Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi and Assemblyman Robert Auth have opposed common sense gun safety measures, often standing alongside Governor Christie against bipartisan efforts to keep New Jersey families safe.

Cardinale, Schepisi and Auth have all earned at least “A” grades from the National Rifle Association (NRA), with Cardinale and Auth earning “A+” grades for voting 100% of the time against common sense gun safety legislation.

Schepisi has co-sponsored a bill that would loosen New Jersey’s gun safety laws and dramatically increase the number of New Jersey residents allowed to carry handguns. Meanwhile, Auth has voted against popular common sense measures such as establishing a statewide gun buyback program and reducing the size of gun magazines.

Schepisi even voted against overriding Governor Christie’s veto of a bill to keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill individuals.

The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School did not change Schepisi’s mind about gun safety laws. While campaigning in 2013, Schepisi told voters in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey that the mass shooting in Newtown, CT two months earlier “did not change her basic view” on gun safety and that in her experience “gun laws did little to deter violent crime.”

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