NJ Spotlight News
Court reinstates most NJ gun restrictions, AG gratified
Clip: 6/21/2023 | 5m 34sVideo has Closed Captions
The decision makes it illegal to have a concealed weapon at various locations
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, on Tuesday reinstated main elements of the state law that prohibits carrying guns in certain spaces. The decision makes it illegal to have a concealed weapon at parks, beaches, museums, casinos, entertainment facilities and other public areas -- but still available in moving vehicles and on private property at the owner’s discretion
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NJ Spotlight News is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS
NJ Spotlight News
Court reinstates most NJ gun restrictions, AG gratified
Clip: 6/21/2023 | 5m 34sVideo has Closed Captions
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, on Tuesday reinstated main elements of the state law that prohibits carrying guns in certain spaces. The decision makes it illegal to have a concealed weapon at parks, beaches, museums, casinos, entertainment facilities and other public areas -- but still available in moving vehicles and on private property at the owner’s discretion
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipconcealed weapons are banned again in New Jersey but only in certain spaces and not permanently a decision issued late Tuesday by a federal appeals court reinstated parts of the State's new law that prohibits carrying guns in so-called sensitive places making it illegal to have a gun at parks beaches museums casinos entertainment facilities and other public areas but you can still carry in moving vehicles and on private property at the owner's discretion prior to this week's ruling U.S District Court Judge Renee Marie boom blocked most of the State's new rules from taking effect it's just the latest in what's become an ongoing battle as the state tries to preserve restrictions gun rights groups have been fighting since they were enacted last year so does this new order mean the state could win this fight I'm joined by New Jersey attorney general Matt Plotkin attorney general first thank you for your time I'm I guess I'd just like to get your reaction to this ruling and I'm wondering if it surprised you at all given what the rulings have been up into this point well thank you for having me Brianna and no it didn't surprise me because we've been saying all along that the law that the legislature uh dutifully considered and that the governor signed back in December is entirely consistent with the Second Amendment and uh with the Bruin decision and we've been saying that in our papers we've been saying it publicly and we've been saying that the decisions at the lower court not only were inconsistent with the Second Amendment but jeopardize the safety of the residents of this state and so I'm very gratified that the third circuit has resoundingly agreed with us and has reinstated the vast majority of the law that the governor signed that again will keep our residents safe there are still though key parts of this law that are blocked having those guns and vehicles is just one of those what does that mean for the state and for what's next for your office well let me be clear at 99 of the law is in effect today and is the law of the land there are a few Provisions real literally a few that we are continuing to litigate we will continue to fight for those Provisions as well but the provisions that are allowed to come back into effect things like zoos and bars and restaurants where they serve alcohol and other places that we know when you allow Firearms to enter the premises you're more likely to have violence that's just not my opinion that's what the facts show in states that have had more liberal concealed carry laws for a long time they've had much higher rates of gun violence and in New Jersey we're fortunate to have one of the lowest rates of gun violence in America you're six times more likely to be shot in Mississippi than you are in New Jersey and that's because of those strong laws we have and the way we enforce them yeah well the New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club rightfully points out that this decision um you know is only impacting carrier rights until for the duration of the court case so I'm curious how you move from there and what is in your jurisdiction to do well that's been true about every decision they didn't say that about the Lower Court decisions look the S the decision that we received yesterday was something called the stay pending appeal it means that we got an emergency stay of the lower court decision that blocked part of the law so I put the law back into effect so while it will go forward as litigations do the key thing to know is that for the extended period that this case goes on the law that the governor signed is overwhelmingly in effect which is a good thing for the residents of State it's what we've been fighting for it's what we knew was legal and constitutional and ultimately it's what we knew would keep the residents of New Jersey safe uh attorney general I want to just turn quickly uh to this development that happened just last night with three boards of Education in the Jersey Shore area Middletown Manalapan Marlborough voting to approve you know these so-called parental rights notification policies somewhat similar to what the Hanover Board of Education did and I would like like to know what your office if your office is planning to step in as you said it would if other boards of Education run afoul these are your words of the state law yeah we're closely monitoring what would happen in those jurisdictions last night let me be clear these policies that Target people on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity violate our law we've been saying that courts have agreed with us and ultimately they will not stand but what they will do is stigmatize and hurt children who are identifying as openly gay or lgbtq Plus or having gender identity issues and that is shameful and it's going to put kids at risk at a time where we're already seeing a mental health crisis amongst Our Youth and I would ask every board that's considering this to understand a what they're doing is illegal we will not allow it to stand but B what they're doing is most importantly hurting our kids will your office have the resources to take these on if it comes to that we we always make resources available to to protect the rights of our residents that's not something we shortchange and we'll continue to do that here attorney general Matt Plotkin thanks so much for your time thank you for having me Brianna [Music] [Music]
Damaged section of I-95 to reopen this weekend
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Clip: 6/21/2023 | 58s | Crews have raced to complete a temporary fix of the roadway (58s)
Monmouth County school boards OK parental notification rules
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Clip: 6/21/2023 | 3m 35s | Three boards OK notification about students who identify as trans (3m 35s)
New details on property-tax relief plan for seniors
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Clip: 6/21/2023 | 1m 40s | The plan will go into effect in 2026 if the Legislature approves it (1m 40s)
Unnecessary C-sections decreased in New Jersey
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Clip: 6/21/2023 | 4m 2s | Medical experts attribute decline to improved birthing plans and access to labor support (4m 2s)
Why NJ lawmakers hurry to ban Delta-8 products
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Clip: 6/21/2023 | 4m 13s | Delta-8 products, which can produce a high, are unregulated (4m 13s)
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