TRENTON -- Banning .50 caliber rifles, requiring more education to get a gun license and outlawing "bump stocks," like the one the Las Vegas gunman used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern times, are just some of the gun control measures Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy would enact as New Jersey governor.

Murphy, who hopes to succeed Gov. Chris Christie in the upcoming November election, said Monday that New Jersey, which already has some of the toughest gun laws in the nation, "can be stronger" when it comes to limiting access to firearms to keep people safe.

"We believe we can make them stronger," Murphy said at a news conference in Trenton. "Even if we save one life, it would be worth it."

He gave the remarks while accepting the endorsement of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Murphy also criticized Christie and his Republican rival, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, for inaction on gun control over the past eight years as mass shootings continue to make headlines.

The latest was earlier this month, when a gunman mowed down people at a country music concert from the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel. The gunman killed 58 people and injured more than 500 others.

Some of the shooter's weapons were outfitted with a "bump stock," which effectively turns an semiautomatic rifle into an assault weapon.

"We just know for a fact that there are laws that can be put in place that would ... push back against another big event," Murphy said.

Other measures he would welcome signing as governor include higher taxes on certain types of firearms to "discourage" people from buying them and toughening the background process.

If he wins in November, the state's Democratic-controlled Legislature will all but certainly send gun restriction bills to his desk.

Legislators have been unable, despite repeated attempts, to override Christie's gun legislation vetoes, including a bill that would have made sure people convicted of domestic abuse were stripped of their guns. Other measures included a personalized handgun law the sponsor hoped would shake loose investment in smart gun technology in New Jersey.

The even a single house of the Legislature successfully overroad one of Christie's vetoes had to do with gun legislation.

In 2015, three GOP lawmakers in the state Senate helped Democrats vote against the Republican governor's veto of a bill to include police in the judicial process of deciding whether a person with a documented mental illness can get a gun permit.

But the measure failed to make it out of the Assembly.

Christie signed a similar bill that limits access to firearms for people under restraining orders or convicted of domestic violence offenses in earlier this year.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.