TRENTON -- Top Republicans in the state Assembly plan to launch an effort Tuesday to help people charged in minor gun possession cases in New Jersey avoid unfair jail time.

Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union) told NJ Advance Media that he will urged the Democratic-controlled state legislation to pass legislation that would make it easier for prosecutors to reduce or change charges against someone from out of state accused of breaking New Jersey's gun possession laws.

The state Attorney General's Office already has guidelines giving prosecutors the discretion not to seek mandatory minimum sentences in such cases.

But Bramnick said this measure -- which is sponsored by Assemblyman Ronald Dancer (R-Ocean) and was introduced in the state Legislature more than a year ago -- would officially make the guidelines state law.

"The prosecutor can take into account certain things," Bramnick said.

Bramnick added that Republicans are drafting another bill to make sure someone convicted of carrying a gun illegally in New Jersey would no longer face a mandatory minimum sentence of three and a half years in jail.

"We want bad guys with guns to go to jail," Bramnick said. "But we don't want good guys who maybe made a stupid decision and forgot there's a gun in the vehicle to go to jail for three years."

Bramnick and Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth) plan to outline the initiative Tuesday morning at a news conference at the Statehouse in Trenton.

Critics have long spoken out against what they say are unreasonable possession laws in New Jersey, the state with the second-strictest gun laws in the U.S., after New York.

Bramnick said the measures were inspired by recent cases and news stories that highlighted the issue in New Jersey.

In November, Carlo Bellario, a 48-year-old actor from Toms River, was charged with second-degree weapons possession for carrying a pellet gun without a permit while filming a small, independent film in Woodbridge.

In New Jersey, being caught with a pellet gun without the proper permits can carry a three- to-five-year jail sentence.

Bramnick said it's likely the proposed legislation would help a prosecutor lessen the charges against Bellario.

"Do you want someone who used an air gun in a movie to go to jail? Of course you don't," Bramnick said.

In October, Gov. Chris Christie -- then a Republican presidential candidate -- pardoned three people from out of state on possession charges:

* Todd Doering of Pennsylvania, who was arrested in 2010 for carrying a legally owned handgun while in Logan Township;

* Brian Lee Fletcher of North Carolina, who was arrested last year while performing emergency repairs after a storm in Hamilton Township, Mercer County. He voluntarily told a police offer that he had a legally owned handgun in his car;

* And Elizabeth Jane Griffith of Florida, who was arrested last year when she tried to board a ferry from Jersey City to Ellis Island with a legally owned firearm.

New Jersey does not recognize other state's gun licenses. People from out of state convicted of violating state gun laws get a minimum three and a half year jail sentence.

"People who forget there's a handgun but you're used to carrying it in 40 states and you make a mistake by bringing it into this state, you should go to jail for three years?" Bramnick asked.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.