Marc Kovar
Executive Vice President
High-capacity magazines
and social media
When legislation was signed that limited the ability to pos-
sess large-capacity ammunition magazines with more than 10
rounds this past summer, it sent shock waves through the rank-
and-file of New Jersey law enforcement. The high-capacity mag-
azine issue was perceived as a move against law enforcement.
This law took effect on Dec. 10, and while it contained an ex-
emption for on-duty law enforcement officers, the magazine re-
striction applied to all of us when off duty.
NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan and I immediately reached
out to the attorney general to express serious concerns we had
with the limitations placed on off-duty officers and the prob-
lems they caused for PBA members. From that point, PBA Direc-
tor of Government Affairs Rob Nixon worked diligently with the
AG’s office to write legislation that would provide an important
exemption for off-duty law enforcement officers.
That legislation, S-2846, passed the State Senate with a unan-
imous vote. The companion State Assembly bill, A-4304, stalled
in the Judiciary Committee. The ban of large-capacity mag-
azines applied to all off-duty law enforcement officers until
we could work on an exemption. The attorney general’s office
worked with us to get the legislation through the Assembly and
signed into law.
Throughout this short, but intense, process of working with
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Senate President Steve Swee-
ney and the Murphy administration to achieve our goals, I was
regularly bombarded by text messages and phone calls about
some of our members’ negative posts on Facebook. I don’t use
Facebook, Twitter or any social media, but many of our mem-
bers do and, unfortunately, it has become a venue for the vo-
cal minority to lodge frustrations, complaints and accusations,
oftentimes without the benefit of all the facts. And sometimes
even without the benefit of any facts at all.
We have always encouraged members to contact their Local
presidents and State Delegates with any questions, and if you are
still unsatisfied, reach out to Pat or me directly. We have always
been open and transparent about the work we are doing on your
behalf. Whether it was fighting against Chris Christie and his op-
pressive pension and healthcare cuts or subsequently working to
make sure we have the right to guide our own retirement system,
the PBA leadership is fighting every day on issues that impact
our members. And our efforts are significantly enhanced by the
relationships we have fostered and maintained with the elected
officials in the State Legislature and the Murphy administration.
In fact, after the governor signed the new legislation provid-
ing the large-capacity magazine exemption for off-duty law of-
ficers, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal sent us a letter to say he
was “grateful” for our efforts to reach a positive outcome and
also to reiterate that his office is “working hard to prioritize the
needs and concerns of our law enforcement partners, and I look
forward to working with you on other projects in the coming
months and years.”
Our members made this issue a priority. You asked us to get it
fixed. And we did.
Now, some people might be surprised to know that the
large-capacity magazine exemption for off-duty officers wasn’t
signed into law because of the number of “likes” on Facebook.
This important legislation for our members was finalized and
signed into law in large measure because of the efforts so many
of you have made over these past several years.
These efforts, of course, have included the phone calls and
door-knocking, the relationship-building, the fundraising
drives, the union meetings and, most importantly, the work and
commitment of each and every one of you on a daily basis to
protect communities across New Jersey. We are working for you
every day. The PBA is our 24/7 focus because we know how im-
portant it is to fight for every inch for you and your families.
So, imagine how frustrating it is to be told about social media
posts that contain outrage with no facts that inaccurately de-
scribe our actions. I literally would get an average of 10 phone
calls each day about our own members criticizing our efforts on
the high-capacity magazine issue. Some of those calls came from
the people we were negotiating with to ask why our members
were being critical when we were so close to reaching a positive
conclusion. As you might imagine, from a tactical standpoint,
not having accurate information and posting it online with crit-
icism when you are not informed about the issue is not helpful
to you or your union.
It is easy to sit in front of a computer and constantly criticize.
It takes a much greater commitment to actively participate in
the PBA. If you’re unhappy, come to one of our monthly meet-
ings and express your displeasure. Participate and get the facts
on issues important to you. It makes very little sense to criticize
PBA efforts on social media when we are here to work toward
common goals.
There is a better way. Replace the time it takes trying to get
“friends” on Facebook through negative social media campaigns
and do something productive for your sisters and brothers in law
enforcement. Use that time to participate in meetings, ask the
questions you may have to us directly, instead of through Mark
Zuckerberg, and answer the call when it’s time to support the
people we know are friends of law enforcement. Be a productive
union member and help us to continue to achieve the positive
results you all deserve.
I would like to thank the overwhelming majority of members
who actively participate in our union’s efforts in a positive and
productive way. Your commitment and hard work continue to
have a positive impact on everything the PBA does. We appreci-
ate all you do. Remember, together we are stronger.
Finally, as we remember Mercer County Sheriffs Officers Local
187 President Pablo Santiago - one of the most popular mem-
bers who was loved by everybody - let’s all make it a priority to
ask for help if we feel the need. No matter how dire the situation
may see, if any negative thoughts are coming into your head,
please reach out and make the call to get help.
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ JANUARY 2019 7