In the wake of last week’s Senate committee approval of 6 anti-gun bills, the bill package is quickly moving toward a full vote in the Senate, so it is critical that gun owners weigh in again with legislators.

Please contact every member of the State Senate and tell them to oppose the upcoming package of anti-gun bills and instead pass legislation that targets gun criminals instead of gun rights; protects our schools by keeping intruders out and allowing an attack-in-progress to be immediately stopped on site; and meaningfully addresses mental health concerns while still preserving due process.  Click here for the list of Senator email addresses. 

The bills moving are:

S102 (Magazine Ban / Gun Ban) Criminalizes possession of magazines that can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. Turns 1 million law-abiding citizens into criminals with the stroke of a pen. No grandfathering of existing magazines (though the Assembly amendment providing for permanent blocking of non-compliant magazines has been adopted in the Senate version). Will be ignored by criminals and madmen. Makes no one safer. Interferes with ability of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves.

S160 (Allows Suspension of Gun Rights by Unaccountable “Health Professionals”).  Authorizes firearms seizure and suspension of Second Amendment rights when mental health “professionals” think someone poses risk.  Allows marriage counselors, social workers and nurses to cause suspension of rights.  Allows forfeiture of firearms without compensation to owner. No penalty for fabricating allegations to harass gun owners.

S2376 (Kills Self-Defense) – Cements NJ’s unconstitutional “justifiable need” carry permit standard into statute to prevent most law-abiding citizens from ever exercising the right to self-defense with a firearm outside the home.  No one would be eligible for a NJ carry permit unless they had previously been attacked or received specific verifiable threats.

S2245 (Bans Ammunition That is Already Federally Banned). Bans ammunition that is already banned under federal law.  Completely redundant with pre-existing law, makes no one safer, criminals will ignore, changes nothing -- a complete waste of legislative resources.  Squanders an opportunity to severely punish the criminal misuse of ALL ammunition, not just one class of ammunition.

S2374 (Background Checks on Sales That Already Require Background Checks) Mandates background checks on private sales of firearms that already require background checks under state law. Redundant with existing law, makes no one safer, criminals will ignore, changes nothing – a complete waste of legislative resources.

S2465 (Criminalizes purchase of components to manufacture unserialized firearms) Note: This legislation has not yet been heard in Assembly committee.

A seventh bill, S2259 – so-called “extreme risk protection order” legislation – was held and not passed by the committee, ostensibly to allow time for additional amendments.  The bill as currently written provides for the unconstitutional suspension of Second Amendment rights and seizure of firearms with no advance due process.  It also fails to penalize those who fabricate allegations simply to harass those with whom they disagree. We will have further updates on this bill as it moves through the legislative process. 

We anticipate additional legislative activity on all of these bills throughout the State House during the last week of May and the first week of June.  Gun owners should plan to mount a renewed and sustained grassroots campaign fighting these bills after Memorial Day weekend. 

Please watch for further updates and alerts.

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About ANJRPC: The Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs is the official New Jersey affiliate of the NRA, and is New Jersey’s oldest, largest, and most effective Second Amendment advocacy organization.