By Kim Glovas

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) — A public hearing by the New Jersey SAFE Task Force was held Tuesday night at Rutgers University Camden campus.

The multi-purpose room was nearly filled with residents and some lawmakers who had opinions about the state’s positions on social issues. 6th District Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt was one of them.

“I want to remind everybody though that this is not just about guns,” Lampitt said. “This is about mental health, this is about school safety, this is about addiction.”

But her plea fell on deaf ears. Most commented on New Jersey’s tough gun laws. Robert Valerio, a gun owner and trainer, says New Jersey has one of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation. He appealed to the panel to do it’s homework.

“Please research New Jersey’s gun laws and requirements,” Valerio said, “because we’re not just the second toughest in the country with gun laws, when you compare New Jersey and California to the rest of the country, it is an extreme difference.”

Others echoed his comments, saying law abiding gun owners are being penalized because of criminals and others who carry guns illegally.