Garden State Times

When our Founding Fathers drafted the Bill of Rights, they specifically outlined the right to keep and bear arms as “necessary to the security of a free State.” They understood that the right of the people to own firearms is a critical safeguard against government tyranny.

Unfortunately, today’s Democratic Party no longer reveres the Second Amendment, and seeks at every turn to restrict the freedom of law-abiding Americans to protect themselves and their property. New Jersey has long been plagued by some of the nation’s most stringent gun laws, put in place by career politicians in Trenton who hide behind armed security. 

The widespread social unrest seen across the United States in the past year is evidence enough that Americans should have a right to defend themselves against violent lawlessness. New Jersey’s next governor must stand up for the rights of gun owners and end the government crusade against firearm ownership. As governor, I will defend Second Amendment freedoms, while my opponent, never-Trumper Jack Ciattarelli, will only further strip them from law-abiding citizens. 

Jack Ciattarelli’s record on guns couldn’t be clearer. As a member of the State Assembly, Jack sponsored a statewide gun buyback program in 2014 – a thinly-veiled effort to confiscate guns that does nothing to deter crime. When former Republican Governor Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would make it more difficult to purchase a gun, Jack Ciattarelli gleefully signed on to a Democratic effort to override the veto. At every opportunity, Jack has turned his back on gun owners and sided with Democrats and activist groups who want to take guns away from law-abiding New Jerseyans.  

Now, as candidate for Governor, Jack would like to convince New Jersey conservatives that he’s pro-gun. But I know that red-blooded Republican voters can’t be fooled with disingenuous rhetoric and empty promises to gun owners. As always, actions speak louder than words, and Jack’s actions show that he’s no friend of the gun community. That’s why the NRA declined to endorse Jack during his 2015 reelection campaign, and why he gets a failing grade – 58% - in the most recent NRA ratings. 

This June, I will be the only candidate on the Republican ticket who is unashamedly pro-Second Amendment. I’ll oppose any legislation that seeks to further curb gun ownership and stand up for your right to keep and bear arms. The stakes are too high to allow four more years of anti-gun leadership in Trenton.