
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 18, 1990                   TAG: 9005180426
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: TRENTON, N.J.                                LENGTH: Short

N.J. LEGISLATORS PASS ASSAULT-WEAPON BAN

The state Legislature on Thursday passed a bill that would give New Jersey the nation's toughest ban on assault weapons, despite frantic last-minute pressure to defeat the measure from vocal gun supporters.

The bill, strongly supported by Gov. Jim Florio, was approved by the state Senate 21-17, gaining just enough votes needed for passage. The state Assembly later passed the bill, 43-33, after nearly five hours of debate.

California is the only other state to ban assault weapons. Supporters of the New Jersey bill said this ban would be tougher because it would not exempt current owners of the weapons. - Associated Press

by CNB