(WEST ORANGE, AUGUST 1) - Schundler for Governor campaign manager Bill Pascoe, responding to recent unfounded statements by Jim McGreevey and his supporters to the effect that Bret Schundler supports so-called "right to carry" legislation, today issued the following statement -- disclosing that during his tenure as a member of the New Jersey Assembly, McGreevey himself actually voted to give New Jersey residents the right to carry so-called "assault weapons."

"People who live in glass houses, as the old saying goes, shouldn't throw stones. And people who vote to put so-called 'assault weapons' on the streets REALLY shouldn't throw stones. That's right, Jim McGreevey himself actually voted to give New Jerseyans the right to carry a firearm -- and he didn't just vote to give them the right to carry a handgun, he actually voted to give them the right to carry a so-called 'assault weapon!' "Jim McGreevey has been playing a game with New Jersey voters for some time now, and the name of that game is spelled H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-S-Y. "The law in question reads as follows: 'Any person who desires to purchase, possess, and carry a machine gun or assault firearm in this State may apply for a license to do so ...' [NJSA 2C:58-5a] The bill, S166, was passed by the Senate on May 17, 1990.

"The legislative record is clear -- Jim McGreevey voted for 'right to carry' legislation, and it's in black and white for New Jersey voters to see. Instead of distorting Bret Schundler's record on crime and gun control, McGreevey should explain himself and his own record. The fact is that as Mayor of Jersey City, Bret Schundler got guns off the street and cut violent crime by 28 percent. Compare that to Jim McGreevey's record in Woodbridge -- where violent crime is UP 21 percent - and it's easy to understand why Jim McGreevey is attacking.

"This makes twice now in the last two weeks where McGreevey's attacks have backfired after revelations regarding his record as a legislator. Two weeks ago, after he attacked Bret for speaking to a Muslim association, it was revealed that McGreevey himself had already spoken to the same group, taken campaign cash from its members, and had sponsored a Senate resolution lauding them. It's only August, and Jim McGreevey has already run out of feet to put in his mouth."