“Shaneen’s Law”: Both Democrats and Republicans in New Jersey moving to allow discretion in sentencing out-of-state residences carrying concealed handguns

Shaneen Allen’s prosecution in New Jersey for carrying her permitted concealed handgun from Pennsylvania is getting attention from the state’s politicians of both parties.  Here is the push from Democrat state Senator Jeff Van Drew.  From CBS New York:

Shaneen Allen was pulled over last year during a traffic stop and said she had a Pennsylvania concealed carry permit. But the permit isn’t valid in New Jersey, which has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation.

“In this case, we’re punishing an innocent woman who made an honest mistake, was totally legal in her home state of Pennsylvania,” Senator Jeff Van Drew told WCBS 880’s Levon Putney. . . .

Van Drew is co-sponsoring a bill so cases like Allen’s can avoid the state’s mandatory jail time if convicted.

“I mean, honest mistakes happen, she’s a legal, law-abiding person and a mistake occured and quite frankly the judge should have jurisdiction and the judge should have discretion,” Van Drew said. . . .

A similar bill has been put forward in the Assembly.  From the Daily Journal:

A Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill that would give discretion to New Jersey judges dealing with out-of-state gun owners.

Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, R-Monmouth, introduced “Shaneen’s Law” in response to the case of Shaneen Allen. The Pennsylvania mother faces charges for carrying a gun in New Jersey. She is legally allowed to carry the gun in Pennsylvania. . . .