Among a pack of seven bills signed into law on Tuesday were measures banning certain guns, barring firearm ownership without training, as well as increased tracking and registration mandates.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy this week signed his self-described "Gun Safety 3.0" package, so named because it is his third attempt to have his gun control proposals marched through the state legislature despite the one-party rule in the Garden State. The bills include ammunition registration, microstamping, a ban on gun ownership unless one can prove their past firearms training, a bill that could end the firearms industry, outlawing .50 BMG firearms for most, and other measures.
"As I have said before, this is a huge step forward for commonsense gun safety and for safer communities," said Murphy, before going on to promise even more restrictions. "But it cannot be our only or last step. I look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature and take action to make this state safer for all."
The seven bills include:
A1765/S1893 – Allows New Jersey's Attorney General to bring cause of action for certain public nuisance violations arising from the sale or marketing of firearms. The Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, a pro-gun group in the state, contends this is an "industry killer" bill designed to destroy the American firearms industry at all levels by priming it for frivolous lawsuits.
A1179/S1204 – Requires firearm owners who become New Jersey residents to obtain a firearm purchaser identification card and register handguns acquired out-of-State. The ANJRC characterizes this as a registration double-standard for new residents.
A4367/S2846 – Upgrades certain crimes related to manufacturing firearms from third degree to second degree. Those "certain crimes" involve opening individuals to 10 years in jail for possession of previously-legal kit guns such as Polymer 80 kits.
A4366/S2905 – Revises the definition of "destructive device" to include certain .50 caliber rifles. This will ban most .50 BMG firearms from the consumer market – but police in the state will still be able to buy and possess them.
A1302/S2903 – Regulates sale of handgun ammunition and develops a system of electronic reporting of handgun ammunition sales. Fundamentally, an ammo registration scheme.
A4370/S2906 – Requires training for issuance of firearms purchaser identification card and permit to purchase a handgun under certain circumstances; provides that firearms purchaser identification card include photograph and thumbprint and remain valid for ten years. In short, makes it illegal to own or buy a gun without having some sort of training.
A4368/S2907 – Requires firearm retailers to sell microstamping-enabled firearms upon determination of availability by AG. This poison pill legislation would halt the sale of traditional handguns in the state once those with thus-far impossible microstamping technology become available. The trapdoor in the bill is that it allows the state to determine what "available" is.
"All of the bills target the rights of law-abiding gun owners, and none of them provide for the severe punishment of gun criminals or impact mental health issues related to firearms ownership," said the ANJRPC in a statement. The group said it is analyzing the final versions of these measures considering the recent Supreme Court Bruen ruling, making the stage likely for legal challenges.
Banner image: Kimber R7 Mako on the range. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
