Greenwald & Holley Bill to Require Background Checks for Private Gun Sales Advanced by Assembly Panel

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald and Assemblyman Jamel Holley sponsored to improve gun safety by requiring background check for private gun sales was advanced Wednesday by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

“Requiring a licensee to complete a National Instant Criminal Background Check on the recipient of the handgun, rifle or shotgun is just plain common sense,” said Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington). “It’s shocking that we don’t do this already, but with this bill we fix this gaping loophole and improve gun safety.”

“This is an idea everyone should support,” said Holley (D-Union). “We can fix this and both protect the public and the rights of law-abiding citizens who have nothing to fear from a background check. This will make for a safer New Jersey.”

The bill (A-2757) requires all sales or other transfers of a handgun, rifle, or shotgun to be conducted through a retail dealer licensed under state law or a federal firearms licensee.

The licensee would be required to complete a National Instant Criminal Background Check on the recipient of the handgun, rifle or shotgun.

Exceptions under the bill include transactions between members of an immediate family, between law enforcement officers, between licensed collectors of firearms or ammunition as curios or relics, and temporary transfers to participate in certain training courses.