Feb. 15, 2024
By Gabriel Campos
Staff Writer
Gov. Phil Murphy reported at a news conference on Dec. 28 that the number of shootings in New Jersey is the lowest it has been since New Jersey began its record-keeping 15 years ago.
2023 was the first year that fewer than 1,000 people were shot in the state. Out of the 924 people shot, 191 were killed, down 8% from the previous year.
According to The Record newspaper, New Jersey officials attribute the decrease in gun violence to a combination of new programs and laws that aim to keep residents safe.
One of these laws, which was passed in 2018 and further strengthened and expanded in 2019 and 2022, made the sale of ghost guns in New Jersey entirely illegal. Ghost guns are homemade, untraceable guns that are usually made using a 3D printer. Murphy made the 3D printing of guns a second-degree offense and made the distribution of code that can produce firearms from a 3D printer illegal. Those convicted of transporting ghost guns into New Jersey face up to 10 years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines.
Class III School Resource Officer William Peer said gun violence affects New Jersey in a variety of ways.
“During my police career, I’ve seen gun violence used on the street by criminals against innocent victims,” Peer said. “Also, [I’ve] seen the tragedy where some students gain access to guns, and they are going through all different types of emotional problems. And instead of seeking help, they opt to commit suicide.”
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun violence prevention organization, six out of 10 gun deaths are suicides.
In 2022, Murphy expanded upon laws passed in 2018 that required the police and mental health practitioners to keep firearms away from therapy and mental health patients who seek to harm themselves or others.
“The Constitution is a living document, and it needs to evolve with the times.”
One of these laws is the Extreme Risk Protection Order, which is commonly referred to as a red flag law.
“If you feel that one of your family members who has access to guns is going through some psychological trauma where they shouldn’t have guns or they’re threatening suicide or other things, you can call the police,” Peer said. “The police now can get a legal document… to go to that house and seize those guns.”
Once an ERPO is filed, the person it was filed against can no longer purchase a firearm or ammunition and is barred from carrying firearms identification permits.
History teacher Ms. Schiraldi said senators and members of the House of Representatives need to address the Second Amendment to further prevent gun violence in New Jersey.
“The Constitution is a living document, and it needs to evolve with the times,” Schiraldi said. “A lot of times it doesn’t, and I think the [National Rifle Association] is so powerful that it is the reason why it hasn’t evolved with the times.”
The NRA is known for its advocacy against any form of gun control, donating millions of dollars to the political campaigns of Utah senator Mitt Romney, Florida senator Marco Rubio and Senate Minority Leader from Kentucky Mitch McConnell during their political careers, according to the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Schiraldi said she is especially concerned about gun violence in schools, which has become increasingly frequent.
“It didn’t start until the ‘90s,” Schiraldi said, referring to the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado in which 13 students were killed and over 20 were injured. “There was [rarely] gun violence in [schools], and now it’s every week.”
One effort to address gun violence among young people is the Hudson County Credible Messenger Program, which connects youth who are involved in the criminal justice system with adult mentors who have lived similar experiences. These mentorships provide structured relationships for justice-involved youths.
Director of the Hudson County Credible Messenger Program Dennis Febo said he has had good outcomes working with students through this program.
“When I show up, when I talk to them, I remember me when I was 16,” Febo said. “I can remember things I wish someone would’ve told me.”
Gun violence statistics in Jersey City, the largest city in Hudson County, reflect the statewide trend. Compared to 2022, shootings in Jersey City dropped from 52 to 47, and homicides are down from 12 to 10, according to the Hudson County View online news outlet.
Members of the Credible Messengers hope their work interacting with young people in the criminal justice system contributes to the local decline in gun violence.
“[We have] the ability to relate based on experience,” Febo said. “If you [overcome] those challenges, then you are equipped to be able to help other people understand how to get through them too.”
