Sponsored by:

Assemblyman ROBERT AUTH

District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Clifton, Assemblywoman DiMaso, Assemblymen Wirths, Space, Dancer, Thomson, Wimberly and Karabinchak

SYNOPSIS

Urges President and Congress to permit military personnel to carry loaded firearms at military facilities.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Assembly Resolution urging the President and Congress of the United States to allow military personnel to carry loaded firearms at military facilities.

Whereas, Since 1992, the United States Department of Defense has prohibited members of the military from carrying loaded firearms at military facilities, excluding military personnel specifically authorized to carry firearms; and

Whereas, Several shootings have occurred at military facilities, including an attack on a military recruitment center, leaving the members of our Armed Forces with no means to defend themselves in the event of an immediate violent attack; and

Whereas, The same men and women whom this country entrusts to protect us and engage in warfare overseas, who are well-trained with firearms, and who may have their own permits to carry firearms, may not protect themselves at military facilities in the same way they may protect themselves elsewhere; and

Whereas, Military personnel are upstanding and disciplined citizens who follow the law and abide by the prohibition against carrying firearms at military facilities, but a rogue shooter, whether in the military or otherwise, who disregards the law and attacks a military facility places our nation's servicemembers in great danger; and

Whereas, If members of the military had been permitted to carry loaded firearms at military facilities, perhaps the senseless tragedies at Fort Hood, Texas, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and elsewhere could have been avoided; and

Whereas, The government of the United States should be doing everything in its power to protect the men and women of our Armed Forces, including providing these military members with the opportunity to defend themselves in the event of a security breach at a military facility; and

Whereas, Since the shooting in Chattanooga, at least six governors have signed orders allowing National Guard troops to carry firearms at their facilities, which will provide both a deterrent to would-be shooters seeking to harm members of the military, as well as protection for the military in the event of such an attack; and

Whereas, The President and Congress should modify policies regarding the carrying of firearms at military facilities in light of what unfortunately may become a more common threat to our troops; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and appropriate for this House to urge the President and Congress to allow military personnel to carry loaded firearms at military facilities; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House urges the President and Congress of the United States to allow military personnel to carry loaded firearms at military facilities, including military recruitment centers, so that members of our Armed Forces may better protect themselves in the event of an attack at these facilities.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President of the United States, the majority leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of New Jersey.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to allow military personnel to carry loaded firearms at military facilities so that, in the event of an attack at these facilities, our troops may better protect themselves.

Recently, there have been multiple attacks at military facilities. Due to a Department of Defense policy, members of the military are not permitted to carry loaded firearms at military facilities, unless they are specifically authorized to do for security reasons. This policy puts our nation's military members at great risk. While our troops remain unarmed at military facilities, criminals with no regard for the law take advantage of a policy that leaves members of our Armed Forces exposed and vulnerable. The United States should be doing everything in its power to protect the men and women making great sacrifices for our country, and the policy of prohibiting firearms at military facilities puts these men and women in danger.

These troops are entrusted to engage in warfare throughout the world, yet the Department of Defense's policy does not allow these same troops to defend themselves from a very real threat at home. It is time to change an outdated policy and provide protection for our members of the Armed Forces.