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Last December New Jersey hunters dodged a figurative bullet when Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg’s bill banning the sale and ownership of rifled firearms of .50 caliber and above in the state was, although reported out of committee, withdrawn from consideration by the Assembly.

Lobbyists often get a bad name, but black powder hunters are indebted to the Princeton Public Affairs Group. The Princeton lobbying firm, retained by the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs (ANJRPC) to keep an eye on proposed firearms legislation in the New Jersey legislature, alerted the association that Weinberg’s Bill A392, if passed, would seriously impair muzzle-loading hunting in New Jersey.

Her staff had apparently advised Assemblywoman Weinberg, a Democrat from the 37th District, that rifles chambered for the .50 caliber machinegun cartridge could be used by thugs to stick up 7-11 stores or by terrorists to shoot down commercial jets, or some such nonsense. In fact these guns, weighing from twenty-five to fifty pounds, are used for special long-range target shooting and by the military for certain sniping tasks. There is no record of any of them ever being used in a crime and no rational reason that I can see to ban them.

The Assemblywoman and her staff do not appear to have been aware that banning such rifles under a blanket prohibition of ownership of any rifled firearms .50 caliber and larger by New Jersey residents would outlaw inline muzzleloaders. Although it grants exemptions for original antiques and reproductions of same, if taken literally A3942 might well ban popular traditional style rifles that are not direct replicas of original guns, like the Thompson/Center Renegade. This is a fuzzy area that animal rights activists and anti-gun zealots would be quick to exploit in the courts. There is also some question as to the extent of the exemption, which can be interpreted as for current owners only.

There is no doubt the bill would ban many original and reproduction black powder breechloaders, including.50-70 caliber Springfield and Sharps military guns and big bore British double rifles chambered for the .577 nitro express and similar rounds. Hunters who use rifled slug barrels in their modern shotguns would be disarmed as well by the Weinberg bill.

The ANJRPC’s Robert Viden joined John Rountree (a long range black powder shooter and North-South Skirmish Association member) of the New Jersey Arms Collectors club and Craig Dear of South Jersey Sportsmen at the hearing held on A3942 before the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee on Thursday, December 7.

During the course of the hearings, where Viden, Rountree and Dear expounded on the ill informed provisions of A3942, the bill’s author, Assemblywoman Weinberg, answered another lawmaker’s question by responding, “Why do you keep asking me questions about firearms? I don’t know anything about firearms.” This startling admission drew a response from the gallery questioning as to why, considering her ignorance of the matter, she sponsored legislation regarding firearms, and Ms. Weinberg left the chamber.

In the end, wiser heads prevailed, and the bill was withdrawn from consideration. Mr. Viden, however, thinks it may well be back in a somewhat different form in the 2004-2004 legislative session, and that New Jersey black powder hunters, shooters and collectors should be ready to express their concern. The .50 caliber Shooters Association, a group of .50 caliber target shooters, as well as well known muzzleloader manufacturer Thompson/Center Arms, have pledged assistance. Those interested in supporting the cause in this matter should contact Viden at (856) 881-7575 or at RLV@bobslittlesportshop.com.

While I have your attention on this matter, I’d like to note that the ANJRPC, along with the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs (NJSFSC) is out there every day defending our right to shoot and hunt in this state. In addition to ANJRPC’s efforts, NJSFSC Conservation Director George P. Howard and Carol Katona, the association’s Legislative agent, have also protested the Weinberg bill and its draconian implications for New Jersey hunters.

Without them our rights would have been legislated out of existence long ago. Both organizations deserve our utmost support, not only through our clubs (many of which are affiliated with both organizations) but as individual members. Frankly, there is no excuse for New Jersey sportsmen not to be individual members of both organizations.

Like the NJSFSC, the ANJRPC has several levels of individual membership varying in cost whether or not the member desires use of the association’s Cherry Ridge rifle range. You, like me, may live too far away to take advantage of the range, but a $20 individual annual membership in the ANJRPC, like your annual individual membership in the NJSFSC, is a wise investment in your future as a shooter and a hunter in this state. If you’re not a member of NJSFSC and mooching on your club’s subscription to this publication, turn to page #2. If you’re not a member of ANRJPC, contact them at PO Box 392, Fair Lawn, NJ, 07410-0392 or visit the website at www.anjrpc.org. Oh, and get out your checkbook.

Joseph G. Bilby is a columnist for New Jersey Federated Sportsmen News and Civil War News. He is also a member of OWAA, NJOWA, ANJRPC, NJFS, N-SSA and NRA (life).

This column originally appeared in the June 2004 issue of New Jersey Federated Sportsmen News and has been reprinted with permission.