TRENTON — The state Senate voted today to drastically change the way New Jersey issues firearms permits with a system that would encode them onto driver's licenses and allow for instant background checks.

"This truly is a national model. I expect other states will look at what we just did," said Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), the bill’s sponsor.

The bill (S2723) was among 10 gun-related measures the Senate passed, including ones to increase penalties for convicts who unlawfully possess guns and bar state investment in companies that make and sell assault rifles.

The action was the latest step the Legislature has taken to tighten New Jersey’s already strict gun laws in response to the December school shootings in Newtown, Conn., in which 20 children died.

It also comes as the Senate and Assembly have begun working together on gun legislation after beginning with competing ideas. But Gov. Chris Christie — whose signature is required for the bills to become law — has not said where he stands on them.

Sweeney’s "centerpiece" bill would encode firearms purchase permits onto driver’s licenses or a state-issued "smart card" and require proof of firearms training. But it also would give people more time to buy a gun after getting a permit — four years, as opposed to the current 90 days.

State Senate Presidents Stephen Sweeney presides over today's session in Trenton.

Senate Democratic spokesman Richard McGrath said driver’s licenses encoded with the permits would not look different from regular licenses.

Sweeney said if a permit-holder commits a crime, it would show up when a gun dealer swipes the card. The bill would also track internet ammunition sales, and private gun sales would need to go through a dealer.

"It incorporates a lot of things that needed to be done," he said.

Assembly Democratic spokesman Tom Hester Jr. said leaders in the lower house will review the bill and "expect to announce plans shortly."

A spokesman for Christie did not return a call seeking comment on the measure, which passed 23-17, with all but one Democrat supporting it and all 16 Republicans opposing it. The Legislature’s Republican votes are often an indicator of how Christie will act on a bill.

"I would hope the governor recognizes this is common-sense, good legislation," Sweeney said.

Gun rights advocates disagree. Scott Bach, executive director of the New Jersey Association of Rifle and Pistol Clubs, urged his members in an e-mail Tuesday to call Sweeney and express their opposition.

"Do not be misled by claims that this bill benefits gun owners," he wrote. "This bill is poison with one or two drops of sugar added."

Three other bills that passed will go straight to Christie. They would require the state to submit data on those who should be banned from owning guns to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (A3717), bar the state pension fund from investing in companies that make or sell assault rifles (A3668), and restrict guns from those on the federal terrorist watch list (A3687). The Senate sent Christie three other measures 10 days ago. He has not acted on any of them.

Other bills passed today would ban .50 caliber rifles (A3659), upgrade penalties for criminals caught with guns (S2804), require criminals caught with guns to post full cash bail (S1133), and increase the statute of limitations for theft of guns from five years to 10 years (S2801).

Both sides of the gun debate felt the package of bills the Senate passed was missing crucial legislation.

Bach, the gun rights advocate, criticized the Senate for not advancing a bill approved in committee that would ease restrictions on how residents can transport firearms.

"Many of the bills in this package have nothing to do with stopping crime or preventing another tragedy — they are purely an attack on the right of law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms," Bach said.

Bach, however, said he supported bills passed today that toughen penalties for criminals caught with firearms.

Bryan Miller, executive director for the anti-gun-violence group Heeding God’s Call, wants the Senate to vote on a bill to restrict the capacity of ammunition magazines, from 15 rounds to 10. The measure passed the Assembly but Sweeney has refused to advance it in the Senate.

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"We’ll be out there very strongly talking about the magazine bill," Miller said.

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