PARSIPPANY – Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) joined with members of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force this morning at a press conference urging the Senate to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019, and H.R.1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019. All three of these bipartisan bills were passed by the House and have been blocked for a vote by the Senate and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Representative Sherrill’s remarks are below:

Thank you so much to Representative Veasey and the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force for bringing us together today, to Representative Thompson for your leadership, and to Robyn and Ky, the representatives from Brady and Everytown, for joining us this morning. I’d also like to thank you for taking a moment to talk about Chairman Cummings. He was a model for all the freshmen as we entered Congress, and I’m so sorry that we lost him far too soon.

My name is Mikie Sherrill, and I proudly represent New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.

It was my father who taught me how to shoot. He was a lifetime member of the NRA, is an antique firearms dealer, and a sportsman. My father not only taught me how to shoot, he taught me how to safely handle firearms.

I continued that training at the U.S. Naval Academy, where I qualified as an expert shot in the Colt .45, the 9mm Beretta, and the M16 assault rifle. Again, I not only learned how to hit my mark, but I learned proper storage, handling techniques, and safety protocols.

I strongly believe in the rights of responsible gun owners. I have spent most of my life handling firearms. And that’s why I know how critical it is for this Congress to pass common sense gun safety laws.

There is virtually no disagreement among the American public — including gun owners — that we need universal background checks. And yet, just across this plaza, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refuses to bring H.R. 8, a bipartisan background checks bill, up for a vote, and to protect the American people.

Closing the Charleston loophole, the gap in the FBI background checks system that allowed the Charleston shooter to massacre congregants at Mother Emanuel Church, is another common sense step we can take to keep our communities safe.

The same goes for the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization, that closes the boyfriend loophole, because 93 percent of women killed by men in 2015 were murdered by someone they knew, and the most common weapon was a gun.

The House has passed all three of these bills. The Senate now has had them for months and yet still refuses to act.

I learned in the Navy that leadership starts at the top. Right now the U.S. Senate is way behind, dangerously behind, the American public on this issue. Responsible gun owners understand this. Those experienced in firearms, like those standing before you today, understand this. It’s time for the U.S. Senate to show courage and put public safety ahead of partisan politics.

Thank you.

WHO:

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05), Chairman of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33), Deputy Whip of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), Member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

Kyleanne Hunter, VP of Programs for Brady United/Former US Marine Corps Combat Veteran

Robyn Sordelett, Member of Everytown for Gun Safety

PARSIPPANY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Patrick J. Callahan announce and confirm an ongoing investigation into a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred in Parsippany-Troy Hills.

The driver who caused the crash was taken to the hospital and police are looking into the possibility the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to a law enforcement source.

On Friday, October 18, at approximately 1:45 a.m., law enforcement was dispatched to Route 80 Eastbound near mile marker 45.2 on a report of a multi-vehicle crash.  The fatalities of two adult females and one adult male have been confirmed.

One of the victims was identified as Jalen Monet Davis, 20.  There is a donation page set up for Jalen, click here for more information.

Her mom, JoAnn Merritt said “Jalen just turned 20 two weeks ago and was working on her music career. She was such a loving spirit with the heart to serve and help people. She was the most unselfish person known. She was loyal to a fault and opened her heart to everyone. She always saw the good in everyone.” Jalen currently lives in Atlanta Georgia but previously was from Parsippany attending Central Middle School.

The investigation remains ongoing and further information will be released at a later time. Information on the other two victims have not been released at this time.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (973) 285-6200.

MORRIS COUNTY — On Thursday, October 17, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, First Assistant Prosecutor Thomas A. Zelante, Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brad Seabury, and members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Division briefed municipal law enforcement participants for the next phase of Operation Helping Hand.

Operation Helping Hand, first launched in Bergen County, is an initiative where substance abuse treatment is offered to those arrested for possessory drug offenses. In the summer of 2018 Prosecutors’ Offices from five counties, including Morris County, participated in a statewide phase of OHH, alongside many municipal police departments and sheriff’s offices.  Morris County instituted its own OHH program in 2019.

Morris County will roll out the next phase of Operation Helping Hand, which will start in October and continue through August, 2020. A coordinated and collaborative operation comprised of local and county law enforcement partners will participate. If an individual is arrested for a controlled dangerous substance offense during an OHH operation, they will be offered the opportunity to avail themselves of recovery resources. If accepted, the individuals will be referred to a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist from the Center for Addiction, Recovery Education and Success (CARES).

Prosecutor Knapp said “This program is all about saving lives. It is about getting people into treatment where they will hopefully take advantage of the resources offered to them to combat the illness of addiction.”

During the first phase of the Morris County Operation Helping Hand, Morris County law enforcement made 45 arrests, four of which included charges for possession of controlled dangerous substances with the intent to distribute. Of the 35 individuals deemed eligible for Operation Helping Hand Services, 27—or 80% of them, accepted treatment. The operation also resulted in the seizure of over 1,000 folds of heroin, more than two ounces of cocaine, and more than two pounds of THC-related substances, including marijuana, hashish, and vape pens and cartridges.

One individual arrested during Operation Helping Hand spoke at the briefing about her experience, and described how the connections forged through the program have allowed her to enter treatment and begin the road to recovery.