NJ legislative panel OKs new gun measures

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey Assembly panel has approved several gun control measures that include exempting firearms records from the state’s open records law.

The Law and Public Safety Committee passed the 20 measures Wednesday as part of a package of gun control bills introduced by Assembly Democrats.

The bills include measures that require the state to submit certain mental health records to the national background check system. Another measure would disqualify anyone on a federal terrorist watch list from obtaining firearms.

The panel also sent to the full Assembly a bill exempting firearms records from New Jersey’s public disclosure requirements.

A large number of activists who believe the state’s gun laws are already too restrictive were in Trenton for the hearing. New Jersey’s gun laws are among the nation’s toughest.