TRENTON

— The state Senate today plans to vote on about a dozen new bills to would make New Jersey’s already stringent gun laws even stricter.

Chief among the bills is one that would overhaul the way the state issues firearm ID cards (S2723), embedding them onto driver's licenses and putting in place a system to allow for instant background checks every time someone buys a gun.

Other bills in the package would create a school security task force (S2724), disqualify those on the federal terrorism watch list from buying guns (S2485), declare gun violence a “public health crisis” and create a study commission (S2430), establish a 180-day window for people to turn in illegal guns (S2722), toughen penalties for using a BB gun for an unlawful purpose (S2725) and require the state submit records of involuntary mental health commitment to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (S2492).

A bill to ban the future sale of .50 caliber rifles (S2178), which was originally planned for a vote today, is being held. Its sponsor, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), said it's being amended so that, if signed into law, it would take effect immediately.

The Senate voting session takes place at 1 p.m.

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Most of the bills are opposed by gun rights groups, who say lawmakers are overreacting to the December slaying of 26 people – including 20 children – at a Newtown, Conn. elementary school.

The Assembly passed its own package of 22 bills in March, several of which are similar to ones the Senate is taking up today.

But Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) has refused to put up for a vote a bill that would restrict the size of ammunition magazines allowed in New Jersey, from 15 to 10. Assembly leaders say they won’t move on Senate’s gun legislation unless they take up that piece of legislation.

Sweeney last week compromised with pro-gun control groups to win their support for the package, toughening the bills to re-instate a seven-day "cooling off" waiting period for gun purchases and to make it easier for law enforcement to nix firearms purchase permits.