The two major party candidates in the New Jersey U.S. Senate race agree on two major abortion and gun decisions released by the U.S. Supreme Court this week.
Democrat Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw both concurred with the court’s unanimous decision to preserve access to the Mifepristone abortion pill and criticized today’s ruling that struck down a ban on bump stocks that convert semiautomatic rifles into machine guns.
Kim said the 6-3 court decision on bump stocks “fails the American people.”
“Sixty lives were stolen, hundreds injured, at the Vegas Route 91 festival in just over 10 minutes with the help of bump stocks,” Kim said. “I voted to outlaw them to stop their carnage. “Today’s ruling makes it critical Congress pass a ban now to save lives.”
Bashaw said he was also disappointed in the ruling.
“I believe a bump stock ban is a reasonable and effective gun safety measure,” Bashaw stated. “In the United States Senate, I will support bipartisan legislation that protects law-abiding citizens, while keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.”
A moderate, pro-choice Republican who had voiced agreement with the 2018 Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, Bashaw said he was pleased by the top court’s ruling rejecting a lawsuit to restrain the distribution of the abortion pill.
“The federal government should stay out of a woman’s healthcare decisions. I support personal freedom and liberty for all Americans,” Bashaw said. “Under our U.S. constitution, no one has the right to sue to make a medicine or treatment less accessible for others just because they disagree with it.”
Kim called the court’s ruling “an important win this morning to a meritless case.”
“But this moment of relief is fleeting and simply cannot be shared by all across our nation. The Dobbs decision two years ago has unleashed attacks on medicated abortion in states across the country,” Kim explained. “We see threats of a national abortion ban, IVF in question, happening right now, impacting millions. We can and must codify in law reproductive freedoms that all deserve across the country.”
A third candidate in the race, independent Bob Menendez, the three-term incumbent, also issued a statement praising the court’s Mifepristone decision.
“It never should have come to this. Mifepristone is a safe and effective drug that has drawn the ire of anti-abortion extremists,” said Bashaw. “Ever since Roe v. Wade was overturned, we have seen numerous attempts to undermine women’s reproductive rights across the nation and this failed lawsuit was no different. I am always proud to stand up for a woman’s right to choose.”