NJ’s Gun Laws Rank 3rd in US [AUDIO]

New Jersey ranks third in the United States, receiving a grade of A-minus, in a study of gun reform laws produced by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

However, the "2013 State Scorecard: Why Gun Laws Matter" reveals there is still a great deal of work to be done.

Carole Stiller, president of the Brady Campaign's New Jersey Million Mom March chapter, said the Garden State recently passed 10 gun laws. Those include a purchasing ban for individuals on the federal terrorist watch list, a requirement for the state to submit data on banned persons to a national background check system, and enhancements for gun trafficking penalties in the aftermath of last year's school massacre in Newtown, Conn.

"Research shows that strong laws can keep people safe from gun violence," said Stiller. "But Gov. Christie also vetoed some very important measures, like banning the .50 caliber rifle."

Another piece of legislation vetoed by Christie would have required New Jersey law enforcement agencies to report information about lost, stolen or discarded guns to federal databases. But according to Stiller, no matter how strong New Jersey's gun laws may be, weak laws in other states continue to put the rest of the country at risk.

"We know state gun laws fill critical gaps in our federal law, but there is still work to be done when anyone can go to a neighboring state and evade New Jersey's critical gun measures," said Stiller. "That is why background checks should be required for all gun purchases."

Right now, roughly 40 percent of all gun sales do not include federal background checks. Many weapons are purchased at gun shows and online.

"By not requiring the background checks, it becomes way too easy to cross state lines and get a gun with no questions asked," said Stiller.

California ranked number one on the list. Arizona was last.