Individuals seeking a permit to buy firearms in New Jersey would have to submit results of a psychological evaluation before they could buy a gun, under a bill introduced yesterday in the Legislature by West New York Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez.

The measure would also require applicants to have an on-site inspection and evaluation of the household where the firearm would be located.

The bill was one of 18 introduced yesterday by several lawmakers in the state Senate and Assembly intended to curb gun violence in New Jersey, which already has some of the nation’s toughest gun laws.

In addition to Jimenez’ mandatory psychological screenings, bills call for home inspections for those who want to buy firearms; having prospective buyers list the members of their households with mental illnesses; requiring sales of ammunition be face-to-face; and further shrinking bullet magazines’ capacities from 15 to five or 10.

Gov. Chris Christie dodged questions about his position on gun control in nationally televised interviews yesterday, even though Democrats have chosen to push the issue.

There are already a number of steps a licensee has to submit to before being issued a license to possess a firearm, including consenting to a mental health records search. Jimenez’s bill would add another layer of regulation that she said in a statement is necessary to prevent massacres like the Dec. 14 shootings at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school.

“This is an attempt to protect the public from individuals who could pose a safety threat if allowed to purchase firearms,” Jimenez said. “We cannot wait for the next tragedy before we become more vigilant about who we allow to carry these deadly weapons.”

Jimenez said the bill would require individuals to undergo the same kind of evaluation performed on police officers. The New Jersey State Police superintendent would be responsible for issuing guidelines regarding the content of the exam, the qualifications necessary to administrator it, and more.

Jimenez represents the 32nd Legislative District, which encompasses most of west and north Hudson County as well as Edgewater and Fairview in Bergen County.

The Star-Ledger also contributed to this report.

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