Gun control bills advance in New Jersey

NEW JERSEY (FOX5NY.COM) - New Jersey's gun laws are already among the toughest in the country. But the state Assembly passed six bills on Monday that would strengthen them further. While many of the bills were introduced in previous years only to languish or fail under Gov. Chris Christie, they have newfound support in the wake of the Parkland shooting and the massive March for Our Lives rallies over the weekend.

Applause broke out in the Assembly chamber as a round of six bills aimed at strengthening gun control passed. One would reduce magazine capacity, another would ban armor-piercing bullets, two are designed to keep guns out of the hands of people with mental health issues, and one would require a state resident to show demonstrate that they face a specific threat in order to get a permit to carry a handgun.

The bills' passage comes two days after anti-gun marches swept the nation. Young people are demanding change. On the heels of that momentum,  several of the New Jersey bills passed the Assembly near unanimously, but others drew concern from some Republicans who said they were feel-good bills that would tread on gun owners' rights. 26 members opposed the bill that would make it harder to get a handgun permit.

Outside the Capitol in Trenton, Second Amendment advocates protested the legislation. Inside, Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll said the bills were pushed through hastily.

The bills still need to clear the state Senate before Gov. Phil Murphy could sign them. But that appears likely.