TRENTON — After about four hours of sometimes raucous testimony, the state Senate Law and Public Safety Committee has approved seven new gun control measures.

“It’s a matter of us all working together to ensure the safety and well-being of our families, our neighbors and our co-workers,” said Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), who sponsored many of the measures.

Other bills would create a school security task force (S2724), disqualify those on the federal terrorism watch list from buying guns (S2485), declare violence a "public health crisis" (S2430), establish a 90-day window for people to turn in illegal guns (S2722), establish a school security task force (S2724) and require the state submit records of involuntary mental health commitment to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

The three Democrats on the committee voted yes on all the bills. The one Republican, state Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-Somerset), voted against the centerpiece bill and the school security task force, and abstained on the 90-day window.

The committee plans another hearing on 10 more bills for Thursday, during which they'll consider banning the .50 caliber Barrett rifle (A3659), toughening penalties for gun trafficking (S2719) and barring state pension funds from investing in companies that manufacture or import assault rifles for civilian use (A3668).

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While proponents of gun control said they generally liked the bills, most said they were disappointed that the Senate does not plan to move legislation the Assembly passed in March to further restrict the size of ammunition magazines, from 15 to 10.

Marcia Marley, president of BlueWave New Jersey — a liberal advocacy group — handed the senators a petition with 1,700 signatures calling for the reduction.

“It is not complete,” Marley said. “It is a good start but it needs to be complete by adding the 10 round limit for magazines that our citizens want and have demanded.”

As the hearing progressed, gun rights advocates grew more frustrated. Committee Chairman Donald Norcross (D-Camden) asked James Kaleda, 36, to keep his comments relevant to one of the bills being heard. “I am on the bill. And I will be heard," Kaleda said.

"You're out of order," Norcross said.

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"This hearing's out of order," Kaleda replied.

Norcross then told Kaleda to leave. He wouldn't. So he was escorted out by state troopers.

At the end of the four-hour hearing, angry that Norcross would not allow more testimony, the gun rights advocates stood for a spontaneous rendition of the Pledge of Allegiance.

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