Hoboken Council Members Spar About Gun Control

The Hoboken City Council has approved to support the Daily News' petition to ban assault rifles. 

The resolution to do so passed in a 7-1 vote, with Sixth Ward Councilwoman Jennifer Giattino voting "no."

Giattino said she didn't feel comfortable supporting the petition, because the terms — such as "comprehensive gun control" — weren't clearly defined.

"I’m not comfortable putting my name on a petition when I don’t understand what it means," Giattino said.

The vote resulted in a discussion between Giattino and Councilman Michael Russo, with Russo calling her out as "the sole Republican" on the city council.

"Tonight was very disappointing to me, but that's your right and I respect it," Russo said.

"I don't own a gun," Giattino said. "I don't think I know anybody who owns a gun."

The resolution was purely symbolic, as the city council doesn't have any power to pass any laws on the issue.

"We don't have the power to do anything substantive," said Councilman-at-Large Ravi Bhalla. "We can let legislators know that we want something done about it."