Chatham Gun Violence Rally Remembers Victims, Calls For Change

Chatham NJ

06 June, 2022

1:35 PM

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CHATHAM, NJ — Following a recent increase in mass shootings across the country, residents from all over Morris County gathered at 17 Firehouse Plaza in Chatham to raise awareness about gun violence in the aftermath of recent tragedies. Local community members, politicians, activists and survivor speakers wore orange shirts to honor the lives lost to gun violence and to rally for an end to gun violence. Chatham Borough Chief of Police Brian K. Gibbons was among those in attendance. "I thought it was a beautiful day to support meaningful change in gun laws to help prevent this scourge and proliferation of gun violence. I was impressed with the speakers and hope their message gains traction nationally," Gibbons said. The rally was organized by Morris County Moms Demand Action, a nonpartisan grassroots movement of Americans fighting for gun violence prevention measures. It was founded by Shannon Watts, a mother, in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The event was held in response to the mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. The shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde comes just weeks after a teen gunman killed ten people and injured three more in a Buffalo supermarket. "We can no longer stand by idly as a civilized society and tolerate this type of carnage nationally. As I understand it, most citizens support real change in gun laws and the time for action is overdue," Gibbons said. Gov. Phil Murphy launched the third push in April 2021 for a comprehensive package of gun safety legislation, but none of the bills in the package passed in the Senate. Following the recent mass shootings, Murphy is renewing his push for the eight bills in the package, according to the New Jersey Globe, which includes a bill that would allow the attorney general to investigate and obtain injunctions against gun manufacturers and retailers who "knowingly or recklessly endanger the public health and safety." Among other measures, New Jersey has enacted a "red flag" law for gun violence protective orders, criminalized firearms trafficking, strengthened background checks, reduced the maximum capacity of ammunition magazines and banned "ghost guns" to help combat gun violence. "Assault weapons have no place in a civilized society…much less in the hands of a teenager! I hope to see State and Federal legislators rally around the common good for society and tackle these contributing circumstances at once," Gibbons said.