6. The Amboy Guardian *October 19, 2022The Borniqueneers Book Signing Event
Scutari & Coughlin Announce Major Gun Safety InitiativeOctober 19, 2022 * The Amboy Guardian .7Middlesex County Announces Partnership with New Brunswick Tomorrow toExpand Telehealth Program to New BrunswickPress Release 10/11/22NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ –Middlesex County’s LatinoTelehealth Program, a community-basedinitiative geared towardseducation and increasingaccess to bilingual telemedicineoptions, has expanded to serveNew Brunswick after successfullylaunching in Perth Amboya year ago. In partnership withNew Brunswick Tomorrow — anonprofit that has driven socialrevitalization for the city ofNew Brunswick for more than40 years — the Telehealth Programincreases access to healthcareto the uninsured and underinsuredresidents of MiddlesexCounty via telehealth healthcareprograms.In addition to welcomingNew Brunswick Tomorrow asthe newest partner to the LatinoTelehealth Program, County officialsannounced that two newoffsite hubs will be added to theprogram at the New BrunswickFree Public Library and NewBrunswick Housing Authority.The announcement was officiallymade to the public today,October 11 in a press conferenceheld at the New BrunswickHousing Authority.Sharing the significance ofPress Release 10/13/22TRENTON – Assembly SpeakerCraig J. Coughlin and SenatePresident Nick Scutari todayunveiled legislation that wouldestablish New Jersey as thetoughest in the nation when itcomes to concealed-carry laws.This historic legislation willprevent guns from ending up inthe hands of the wrong peopleby requiring more comprehensivebackground checks beforea permit is issued; prohibitingpermit holders from carryinghandguns in sensitive publicareas such as government buildings,sporting arenas and bars;and imposing new insurancerestrictions, among other measures.“New Jersey continues to be aleader on gun safety with lawsthat help keep our communitiessafe,” said Senate PresidentScutari (D-Union). “This billwill help prevent gun violencewith common-sense standardsto require training, promotegun safety and prevent firearmsfrom being carried into sensitivelocations. Finally, this newlaw will help provide a tool forlaw-enforcement in our fightagainst illegal gun trafficking.”“This legislation is designedto make New Jersey safer inresponse to the US SupremeCourt’s Bruen ruling that, leftunaddressed, would undoubtedlyhinder public safety forthe more than nine million residentsof our state,” said SpeakerCoughlin (D-Middlesex). “Byensuring that individuals canonly obtain a concealed carrypermit after extensive reviewand appropriate training, we arestanding up for victims of gunviolence and helping to preventfuture tragedies while abidingby the Court’s decision.”this partnership and the positiveimpact it will have on the NewBrunswick community, speakersincluded New Jersey AssemblywomanYvonne Lopez;Middlesex County CommissionerDirector Ronald G. Rios;Middlesex County CommissionerClaribel Azcona-Barber;New Brunswick Mayor JamesM. Cahill; Jaymie Santiago,President of New BrunswickTomorrow, Director of ProgramOperations; and Manuel Castaneda,New Brunswick Tomorrow,Director of CommunityHealth.“An initiative like the TelehealthProgram cannot succeedwithout the support of trustedpartners – especially partnerswho already have the trust of thepeople in their community. Weare fortunate to have the RaritanBay YMCA as our partner inPerth Amboy, where the successof the Telehealth Program is directlyrelated to their hard work,dedication, and expertise – andof course their existing relationshipsin the community. We areequally fortunate to have NewBrunswick Tomorrow as ourpartner here in New Brunswick,”said Middlesex CountyCommissioner Director RonaldNew Jerseyans support commonsense gun safety measures,with recent polls showing thatresidents favor stricter gun safelaws by a margin of 5-1. Andthis legislation is sponsored byAssemblyman Joe Danielsen,one of the many recreationalhunters in our state who understandsthat when it comesto keeping our children andcommunities safe, there is noconflict between sportsmen, responsiblegun ownership andgun safety laws.“As a recreational hunter, Iknow that commonsense gunreform doesn’t stop sportsmenlike me from continuing traditionsthat have been passeddown through our families forgenerations,” said AssemblymanDanielsen (D-Middlesex,Somerset). “And, as a father,I know how important it isto keep our communities andschools safe. There is nothingat odds with promoting responsiblegun ownership, gun safety,gun education, and gun trainingwhile upholding the SecondAmendment. I am proud tohave authored this legislationthat will strike a balance betweenpromoting public safetyand allowing people to exercisetheir Constitutional rights.”The bill builds on other majorcommon sense measures thatthe Legislature has passed inrecent years, such as laws thatregulate the sale of ammunitionand increase penalties forirresponsible gun dealers andmanufacturers.“We are committed to protectinginnocent lives with commonsensegun safety measuresthat have consistently kept NewJersey one of the safest statesin the nation,” said AssemblyMajority Leader GreenwaldG. Rios. “On behalf of myselfand my colleagues on the Boardof County Commissioners, Ithank New Brunswick Tomorrowfor joining us in this initiative.I look forward to workingtogether to help ensure everyMiddlesex County resident hasaccess to healthcare.”“For more than 40 years, NewBrunswick Tomorrow has beena devoted advocate on behalfof the people of New Brunswick.They have worked hardto address the social and economicissues that affect cityresidents, and in doing so theyhave forged connections andrelationships with members ofthe community,” said MiddlesexCounty Commissioner ClaribelAzcona-Barber. “Thoseconnections and relationshipswill be invaluable as we expandthe County’s TelehealthProgram into New Brunswick’smany neighborhoods. I lookforward to working with NewBrunswick Tomorrow on whatI’m certain will be a successfulinitiative and make a tremendousdifference in the lives ofso many New Brunswick resident.”“Telehealth is the future ofhealthcare and I am encouraged(D-Camden, Burlington), a coprimesponsor of the bill. “Withthis legislation we continue toaffirm the right to responsiblegun ownership and our neverendingcommitment to publicsafety and violence prevention.”“The decision by the U.S. SupremeCourt earlier this yearstripped away the right forstates to regulate who is ableto carry concealed weapons inpublic,” said Senator Greenstein(D-Mercer, Middlesex).“We must do everything we canto make sure New Jersey familiesremain safe and protectedwhile enjoying all New Jerseyhas to offer. This bill, ensuringgun owners prove a legitimatereason for carrying concealedhandguns in public, is a promisingstep in the right direction."Among other provisions, thislegislation:•Establishes a thorough vettingprocess for those who applyfor concealed carry permitsby increasing the numberof non-family references whomust vouch for applicants, andcreating new disqualificationsfrom the permit process such as“character of temperament” andpast violations of restraining ordersand convictions.•Prohibits permit holders fromcarrying handguns in broadcategories including schools,government buildings, pollingplaces, bars and restaurants,theaters, sporting arenas, parks,airports, casinos and childcarefacilities.•Requires property owners toopt into allowing permittees tocarry on their premises.•Requires concealed-carry permitteesto undergo gun safetytraining, including a gun rangequalification.•Imposes new insurance requirementson handgun ownershipto ensure victims of anaccidental discharge are appropriatelycompensated and protected.•Increases permitting feesacross the board to cover thecost of stepped-up backgroundchecks and these new provisions.•Funds the Victims of CrimeCompensation Office (VCCO)by channeling revenue from theincreased fees.Though New Jersey had broaddiscretion to regulate concealedcarry permits for over a century,those protections have beenweakened in the wake of theU.S. Supreme Court’s Bruendecision in June.Since then, Republicans inNew Jersey have introduced atleast four bills to roll back gunsafety protections, with billsthat would bring more guns intoour schools, allow people tocarry guns while driving, carryfirearms into privately ownedplaces without the propertyowner’s consent, or allow ammunitionmagazines with unlimitednumber of bullets.In all, Republicans in the NewJersey Assembly alone haveintroduced 33 bills that wouldincrease the number of guns inour communities or make it easierto gain access to dangerousweapons.The legislation is partiallymodeled on a law passed byNew York that is currently facinga legal challenge from thegun lobby. Legislative leadersexpect a similar challenge herein New Jersey and are preparedto vigorously defend this legislationagainst a powerful gunlobby and conservative judiciarythat puts gun industry profitsover the welfare of Americanby the results that the MiddlesexCounty Latino TelehealthPilot Program has achieved inuniting healthcare providers andcommunity based organizationsto increase awareness amongthe community and hopefullyencourage patients to use a servicethat is safe, convenient,and confidential. MiddlesexCounty embraces innovation atevery level and I am proud to bea part of this amazing programand excited by the news of theprogram’s expansion into NewBrunswick,” said AssemblywomanYvonne Lopez.“Uniting communities has alwaysbeen our priority; to unitethem under the umbrella of accessto quality healthcare isyet another major step forwardfor New Brunswick. I thankMiddlesex County and NewBrunswick Tomorrow for makingthis a reality,” said NewBrunswick Mayor Jim Cahill.“We are all familiar with the oldadage ‘An apple a day keeps thedoctor away’. Now with thesenew telehealth options a realityin New Brunswick, an Apple(or an Android) is anothernew method of connecting to aworld of healthcare options.”“Access to healthcare is a criticalcomponent for achievingequitable cities and, ultimately,a high quality of life. And,while this has historically beena complex issue, together withCounty and Municipal leadership,we will gather learningsaround virtual and digital telehealthplatforms to step forwardtoward new and innovativehealth care strategies for creatinga healthier community inNew Brunswick, NJ,” said JaymieSantiago, President of NewBrunswick Tomorrow, Directorof Program Operations.Leveraging New BrunswickTomorrow’s existing relationshipswith the community, thispartnership will create opportunitiesfor preventative andspecialized healthcare servicesto all Middlesex County residents.In addition to healthcarebenefits, the telehealth hubswill offer free internet, tech assistance,and bilingual staff andtranslators at physical locations,or hubs, to maximize assistance.For more information aboutthe Latino Telehealth Pilot Programand additional resources,please visit: https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/find-programs-and-resources/community-health/telehealth.families.“The New Jersey legislaturehas taken a crucial first step inrepairing the damage caused bythe wrong and dangerous decisionthe Supreme Court made inBruen,” said Lauren Knighton,a volunteer with the New Jerseychapter of Moms DemandAction. “We know what is atstake, and we cannot take ourfoot off the gas. I am proud tostand alongside New Jersey’slawmakers, Governor Murphy,and fellow gun safety advocatesto ensure that this bill becomeslaw so that all of our communitiesacross New Jersey are protectedfrom senseless acts ofgun violence.”“Brady applauds the NewJersey leaders for taking decisiveaction to protect NewJersey communities from thedangerous implications of theSupreme Court’s Bruen ruling,”said Kris Brown, President ofBrady. “By introducing legislationto strengthen the state’spublic carry permitting systemand establishing sensitive placerestrictions, New Jersey leadershave again shown their commitmentto public safety. Bradyis thankful for this effort andstands ready to help defend anysimilar evidence-based gun violenceprevention policies acrossthe country.”Ads Sell!Call Carolyn!732-896-4446
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