Holzapfel Says Sweeney Should Act on Measure to Protect Kids from Guns
Says Common-Sense Gun Reform Shouldn’t Have Been Included in Controversial Gun Bill
Senator Jim Holzapfel (R-10) has called on Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3) to take action to pass a common-sense gun reform that would protect children and the public from both planned and accidental tragedies that result from children having easy access to firearms.
Holzapfel is the sponsor of legislation (S-2729) which would increase criminal penalties for those who leave a loaded firearm within easy access of a minor resulting in injury or death. A version of this measure was included in a much larger bill (S-2723) sponsored by Sweeney that received a conditional veto from Governor Christie.
“Keeping loaded firearms out of the hands of unsupervised minors is something that everyone agrees we need to do,” said Holzapfel. “By jamming this common-sense reform into a huge gun control bill with many controversial elements, the Senate President has decreased the odds that our efforts to prevent unnecessary tragedies will be enacted.”
McGuckin: Verizon Decision to Eliminate Traditional Phone Service in Mantoloking Ill-Advised
Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, R-Ocean, said he supports the call for the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate the decision by Verizon to discontinue offering residents and businesses in Mantoloking the traditional land-line phone connection. The telecommunications provider is requiring customers to use its news wireless alternative called Voice Link. Earlier this week, AARP made the request for BPU to look into the company’s decision.
“There is no harm in examining Verizon’s decision to force its customers to use its wireless phone system,” said McGuckin, who serves on the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee. “An explanation is needed as to why Mantoloking is one of the only towns in New Jersey not to have a land-line option. This concern is shared by homeowners and businesses, and is not the ‘rhetoric’ of AARP. The community has a right to express its opinion. If Verizon is concerned about its customers and providing a choice in the service they want, they will listen.”
Singer, Connors & Holzapfel: Open Space Funding May Come at Expense of Sandy Victims
Legislators representing areas of the Jersey Shore that were hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy have questioned whether a constitutional amendment that would dedicate $200 million annually for open space preservation may come at the expense of ongoing Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts in future years. Senators Robert Singer (R-30), Christopher Connors (R-9) and Jim Holzapfel (R-10) issued the following statement questioning the inflexibility of the open space funding plan:
“We’ve heard for years how tight the state’s budget situation is, so we are extremely concerned that the constitutional dedication of $200 million of state revenue annually to open space preservation will come at the expense of other critical needs like continuing Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts.
10th District Legislators Join Forces with Ocean County Prosecutor to Stop Heroin & Prescription Drug Abuse
In response to ongoing prescription drug and heroin problems in Ocean County, Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin of the 10th Legislative District recently met with Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato to discuss the changes needed to stop this epidemic.
Senator Jim Holzapfel (seated-left) and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe (standing-left) and Greg McGuckin (standing-right) of the 10th District meeting with Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato (seated-right) to discuss legislation that could help combat the epidemic of prescription drug and heroin abuse that is plaguing much of New Jersey. (SenateNJ.com)
“We are working alongside the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office to reassess and enhance the current state law to allow for more severe penalties for the distribution of specific drugs and to combat the growing heroin epidemic our state currently faces. While there is no quick fix for the growing number of overdoses and heroin related deaths, we must target the distributors. Prescription pill abuse is the new gateway to heroin addiction. Our residents and children need to be educated about the deadly effects before this epidemic gets worse,” the 10th District legislators stated.
Holzapfel Bill Establishing Penalties for Leaving Scene of Boating Accident Passes Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Jim Holzapfel (R-10) establishing criminal penalties for leaving the scene of a boating accident has been approved by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
Sen. Donald Norcross (l) and Sen. Jim Holzapfel (r) with Bonnie Post at a meeting of the Senate Law & Public Safety Committee on June 17, 2013. Post, whose husband Robert was killed in a hit-and-run boating accident, was present to testify in support of legislation (S-2859) sponsored by Norcross and Holzapfel to enhance the penalty for leaving the scene of a boating accident. (SenateNJ.com)
“Now that our summer season has begun, residents are anxious to return to the water and safety is always our first concern. With more boaters on our waterways, accidents are bound to happen. This bill will increase the penalty of leaving a boating accident to a second degree offense if the other party dies as a result of their injuries,” said Senator Holzapfel.
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin: Toms River to Receive $15 Million in Disaster Recovery Grants
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin (all R-10) said that $15 million of Essential Services Grants awarded to Toms River will help local officials to maintain funding for critical services while the community recovers from massive destruction suffered during Hurricane Sandy.
“The $15 million awarded to Toms River will help our community devastated by Hurricane Sandy to survive the financial strain that has followed the storm,” said Holzapfel. “This grant will ensure that public safety, our children’s education and other basic services are not sacrificed as we work to rebuild and recover.”
Holzapfel to Introduce Bill Raising Penalties for Allowing Minors Access to Firearms
Senator Jim Holzapfel (R-Ocean) will introduce legislation on Thursday to increase criminal penalties for allowing minors access to firearms.
“We don’t need any more senseless tragedies, such as those in Toms River and Newtown, to teach us that how people store firearms is as important to public safety as how people obtain firearms,” said Holzapfel, a member of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
Statement from Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin Opposing JCP&L’s Proposed Rate Increase
The following statement by Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin of the 10th Legislative District will be read into the official record at today’s hearing on JCP&L’s proposed rate increase:
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin of the 10th Legislative District, are vehemently opposing JCP&L’s proposed rate increase. This increase will have a severe impact on our residents who were literally left in the dark in the weeks following Super Storm Sandy. Expecting our residents to pay additional money to JCP&L during a time of recovery is appalling. Their request for a rate hike is not only unfair, it’s offensive.
Weinberg/Holzapfel Bill Would Prohibit Residency Requirement for Gas Sales
Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Senator Jim Holzapfel that would prohibit fuel retailers from using a residency requirement to sell gasoline was approved by the New Jersey Senate.
“When individual gas station owners implement their own rationing systems in an emergency, they can create confusion leading to even longer lines and greater frustration for consumers,” said Senator Holzapfel (R-Ocean). “As we experienced in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the decision to ration gasoline is best left to the Governor who can enact uniform rules for all gas stations which can be clearly explained to the public.”
Holzapfel Bill Prohibiting Future Construction of Jughandles on New Jersey Roads and Highways Passes Committee
A bill sponsored by Senator Jim Holzapfel (R-10) that seeks to lessen congestion, make roadways safer and improve the flow of traffic through busy New Jersey intersections has been approved by the Senate Transportation Committee. The legislation, S-207, would prohibit the planning, designing or construction of any additional jughandles on the roads or highways of the state.
“While jughandles were originally designed to prevent the build up of traffic at intersections, they can no longer handle the high volumes that are now common on many New Jersey roads,” said Holzapfel. “Cars get backed up and people often have to wait through three, sometimes four, light changes to get through an intersection with a jughandle. Modern intersection designs are faster, safer and easier for drivers to navigate.”
