Key Gun Safety Bills Become Law

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy signed into law seven key gun safety bills today that will help prevent gun violence in New Jersey.

Sponsored by Senate President Nick Scutari, Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, Senator Joe Cryan, Senator Nellie Pou, Senator Richard Codey and Senator Andrew Zwicker, the laws will: prohibit .50 caliber rifles; crack down on ghost guns; require micro stamping; require firearms training; regulate the sale of handgun ammunition; have new residents register firearms from other states, and allow the Attorney General to file public nuisance claims against gun industry members.

“The threat of gun violence is a real and growing menace in our communities. These laws might not stop every gun crime, but they represent a thoughtful, common sense approach that will target areas of gun control in both the legal and illegal gun markets,” said Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset). “They provide an opportunity to prevent gun violence and provide a safe overall environment for the public.”

“Far too many families have been torn apart by gun violence. We cannot stand by and accept the fact that firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the United States. While we desperately need federal legislation, I am thankful that the Governor is signing these key measures into law today,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex). “We must do everything we can to stop this, and by allowing the Attorney General to take action and seek damages for shootings here in New Jersey, we can start holding individuals accountable for their actions.”

“The surge in gun violence has been horribly tragic, with lives lost, victims wounded and loved ones suffering heartbreak,” said Senator Cryan, the former Union County Sheriff (D-Union). “We have to continue to do all we can to keep deadly firearms out of the hands of those who pose a danger, off the streets, away from schools and out of our communities.”

“As we have all seen recently, gun violence is a real and scary risk in our country and we must act now to reduce the frequency at which it occurs,” said Senator Codey (D-Essex/Morris). “We must ensure that gun owners are aware of how to safely handle and store a firearm to better protect our residents from unnecessary harm. We have to do all that we can on God’s green Earth to stop these shootings from occurring. Everyone needs to be held accountable, and if you misuse a firearm, you shouldn’t be able to get away with it.”

“This senseless gun violence has gone on long enough, and I am glad to see Governor Murphy moving quickly by signing these bills to make our streets, schools and neighborhoods safer. We cannot continue down the path we are now on,” said Senator Pou (D-Passaic/Bergen). “If gun manufacturers or retailers act in ways that constitute a ‘public nuisance’ in the eyes of the Attorney General they should be held liable for appropriate penalties.”

“By having Governor Murphy sign these sensible gun safety bills into law, we are taking responsible actions to help keep our communities safe,” said Senator Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex/Mercer/Somerset/Hunterdon). “Making sure that owners of firearms follow the laws and procedures for gun safety is important. We have some of the strongest gun laws in the country – we want every resident to follow them.”

The Laws:

• Public Nuisance Lawsuits, S-1893: the Attorney General may seek appropriate remedies for public nuisance violations committed by firearm manufacturers, retailers, and other gun industry members who knowingly or recklessly endanger public health and safety. Remedies may include abatement or other injunctive relief of the activity creating the public nuisance, damages, and attorney’s fees and costs. (Ruiz & Pou)

• .50 Caliber Rifles, S-2905: The law will prohibit the future sale and possession of high-powered .50 caliber rifles by civilians. It would set the strict limits by revising the legal definition of a “destructive device” to include rifles capable of firing a projectile of .50 caliber or greater. (Scutari)

• Ghost Guns, S-2846: The law will increase penalties for crimes related to the manufacture or construction of ghost guns. It would upgrade from a from a third degree to a second degree the penalties for purchasing parts to manufacture a firearm without a serial number, construct a firearm with a three-dimensional printer, manufacture an undetectable firearm, or transport a firearm without a serial number. (Scutari/Cryan)

• Handgun Ammunition, S-2903: The law regulates the sale of handgun ammunition and requires ammunition purchasers to exhibit a valid ID. (Cryan)

• Micro Stamping, S-2907: This law will require licensed retail dealers of firearms to sell microstamping-enabled firearms when the Attorney General determines they are commercially available. (Codey)

• Firearms Training, S-2906: The law requires safety training prior to issuance of firearms purchaser identification card. The safety instruction in the safe handling and storage of firearms would be approved by the Superintendent of State Police. It also requires a color photograph and thumb print of the gun card holder. (Codey)

• New Resident Gun Licensing, S-1204: Anyone who brings a gun with them when they relocate to New Jersey would have 60 days to obtain a purchaser identification card and register their weapon with municipal or state law enforcement. It would hold people from out of state to the gun safety standard that New Jersey holds its own residents. (Cryan/Zwicker)