New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. (Photo: Facebook)
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wants to make it dramatically more expensive for residents to exercise their right to keep and bear arms.
Per his latest budget, first obtained by NJ.com, Murphy would hike handgun purchase permits from $2 to $50, firearms ID cards from $5 to $100, concealed carry permits from $50 to $400, state FFL licenses from $50 to $500 and wholesaler/manufacturer fees from $150 to $1,500.
“It’s hard to believe it’s actually cheaper to get a permit to purchase a handgun, which is $2, than it is to get a dog license in practically any town in our state,” said the Democratic governor earlier this month.
Fees on gun permits have not increased in the Garden State since the ’60s. Murphy’s proposed increases would bring in an additional $1.4 million in revenue.
Budget negotiations between the governor and the Legislature are ongoing and are expected to grow more intense this week before the June 30th deadline. To the chagrin of anti-gun advocates, Democratic leaders have not yet committed to the sweeping “Murphy tax” on gun ownership.
SEE ALSO: Lame Duck Christie Signs Bump Stock Ban: New Jerseyans Have 90 Days to Surrender Them
“The state has not raised these fees for 52 years while every other cost in the world has gone up significantly,” Bryan Miller, executive director of the group Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence told NJ.com. “The governor’s budget has these fees in it. The legislative leadership budget does not. Somehow, I don’t think that’s an accident.”
For gun-rights advocates, Murphy’s budget isn’t just about raising revenue for the state. It’s also about chilling the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens.
“What gun prohibitionists like New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy can’t outright ban they want to tax out of existence,” said Alan Gottlieb, the founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, in an email to GunsAmerica. “The power to tax can be the power to destroy. Destroying the Second Amendment is his ultimate goal.”
By week’s end, we should have a clearer picture as to what will happen with those fees associated with gun ownership. Stay tuned for updates.
What is happening in our country since the Biden administration has taken control is as Anti American as it has ever been. Our country is literally being invaded . Lumber , sugar, and most commodities are skyrocketing. Russia and China are eating our breakfast, lunch and dinner with no consequences whatsoever. Our inner cities are ruined. They will never be brought back to a place where people feel safe again. We have politicians who are owned by lobbyists who are paid by companies like FB and Google which control the majority of information that is absorbed by our young Americans. Then there are governors like Murphy, who want to make it more difficult to obtain a CCW, yet complain that it’s way to difficult for blacks to get a $5 ID to vote. The news likes to call it Gun violence, when it’s people who cause all the violence. We have entire school systems like Baltimore who have a $17 BBBBBBBILLION , a year budget, yet not a single student is 50% proficient in math or basic reading and writing. Common sense is not common, because if it was anyone who gave a S—- about our country would actually fix the education system, teach things like how to have a checking account, how to get a mortgage, how not to have 10 kids with 10 different females . We have a massive cultural problem. Democrats want to flood our country will illegals with the intention that they will in the future vote for their party, giving them ultimate power. Only at the cost of our traditions, safe neighborhoods, and the basic rights of real American citizens. Don’t hope someone else steps up, we all need to step up. Brake up these massive social media monopolies, demand we close our borders, term limits , and require that any politician who wants personal security pay for it themselves.
Murphy just wants to put that gun money in a slush fund to buy gifts and favors for high end political donors and to provide extra benefits for illegal aliens like free college tuition and abortions.
Didn’t Tony Soprano live in NJ?
I’m sure the Cripes and the Bloods are consulting with their Lawyers right now to see if their right to carry and ownership of thigh capacity semi autos are being infringed by Governor Murphy and the Democrats
Is New Jersey so hurting for money that they will actually start issuing those $400 concealed carry permits to ordinary citizens who can come up with the cash?
By the way, since the Constitution does not mention dogs or pets, or delegate to the Congress the power to prohibit them, you do have a right to own one. Same goes for driving and other so-called “privileges”.
Government cannot take away rights, it can only infringe on them.
Is everyone in the northeast and north central portion of the United States handcuffed or imprisoned there so they can’t leave? State income taxes, expensive property taxes, un-American and intrusive laws and policies, and a never ending succession of unConstitutional edicts from their “Governor”’s plantation – and those people think people in the south are backward?😂. Move for goodness sakes, just move! People in the northeast remind me of the Jews during the 1930’s in Germany! Get out while you can!
Yes we are stuck here. I live in Connecticut. And the economy is dead. The value of my house is less than I paid for it In 09. In 06 it was worth 550k ,I bought it for 350k . I have put in 100k down to buy it and more in improvement and I can’t lose that. As soon as the value comes back I’m out of here.
Have been longing for a NJ exit for some time. Just another reason to expedite the exit plan.
BTW – I don’t mind the fees being raised. However a factor of 20 to 25 x is excessive and reveals the true goal is to make gun ownership unaffordable for most.
You should mind. Why should anyone need a firearm permit to own a gun in their own home? There are about 39 states that do not require any permit to own a firearm in your own home. There are about another fifteen states that do not even require a concealed firearm permit to carry concealed outside your home. The Second Amendment gives we the people the right to keep and bear arms. But there are about twelve states that have effectively legislated away the Second Amendment.
Don’t you just love liberals reasons for raising fees? Because the prices haven’t been raised since? Only the law abiding get screwed and these bureaucrats know it.
If New Jersey residents(watered down version of citizen) are dumb enough to elect Gov. Phil Murphy, they probably don’t have the mental cpacity to own guns. Seems as though he was a good choice for New Jersey.
I guess he didn’t get the memo, the one about rights cannot be taxed. That’s from Crandall v Nevada back in 1868. It was specifically about the right to travel, but the concept applies to ALL rights.
This will most adversely affect the poor and lower middle classes. Or to put it another way, the Democrat’s base. One could even call this proposal, if one was inclined, “racist”. That can be used to fight against this proposal. On another note: “Murphy’s proposed increases would bring in an additional $1.4 million in revenue.” No, no it won’t. People who can’t afford this won’t pay. Some of them will get caught for not having the proper government permissions to exercise their rights and will end up in prison. There will the costs of prosecuting and jailing these people. There will be costs to fight this from the inevitable law suits. This proposal will cost NJ money, not raise funds.
Why do these treasonist assholes continue to go after law abiding gun owners ? I’m don’t get why they don’t go after the criminal and not the tool.
It’s a rhetorical question , we all know it’s the communist agenda.
I moved to NH from NJ in 1977 and from NH to CT in 1984. From 1984 till 1996 private sale of handguns was legal in CT, without any paperwork. Long gun private sales without paperwork remained legal until 2013. Now everything needs to go through the Sate Police. In the end, I still have a concealed carry permit and have a 9mm Ruger LC9s in my pocket as I write this. Even though they keep tightening up gun laws in CT they will have a hard time castrating the 2nd Amendment in the Constitution state. I wouldn’t move back to NJ if it was the last place in the world to live, I’d rather die.
The only thing you can do is ignore it.
That’s what I did when I lived in the communist state of NJ.
The comparisons to the Poll Tax are apt. Let’s remember that Congressional action, in the form of the Voting Rights Act of 1966 is what defeated it. Congress should pass a Guns Rights Act of 2018. “No state shall make any law regulating the sale and possession of firearms.” Only Federal law applies – you pass your NICS and your state can’t do anything to stop you. It’s more than just New Jersey. NY, CA and a handful of others are just as bad. Yes, I know States Rights advocates don’t like this approach but the theory behind States Rights is that it generally enhances liberty. In this case it doesn’t.
I’m all in favor of that. It’ll keep legal firearms out of the hands of most democrats. Then they will have to start their “revolution” with sticks and stones and nasty words . . . ok, sticks and stones. They’ve already started with the nasty words.
But just to play Devil’s Advocate for a sec, do they really believe that after they have turned the country over that there will still be milk and bread at the store, water at the tap, power in the outlet, gas at the station, and medical care at the ER? Fools.
Bet this idiot has an extremely tiny penis, and he’s compensating.
There needs to be a lawsuit brought against ALL states that require any type of fee, tax, or costs in exercising the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution. .. NO OTHER Constitutionally guaranteed right requires any type of “payment” from legal citizens in order for them to exercise their rights. … It is ONLY the 2nd Amendment that people have to “buy” in order to exercise that right. .. If it is legal for a state to require payment for the 2nd Amendment, then there is NOTHING that can stop a state from requiring payment for the other Constitutionally granted rights…. A legal citizen is NOT required anywhere within the wording of our Constitution to “purchase” from the state the RIGHT to exercise that right.
The poor should not have guns. These sensible fees will put firearms out of the reach of these wretches. If they need protection they should have a government subsidized program to provide armed bodyguards like the ruling elite.
This will just create a state full of none registered/licensed firearms.
“It’s hard to believe it’s actually cheaper to get a permit to purchase a handgun, which is $2, than it is to get a dog license in practically any town in our state,” said the Democratic governor earlier this month.
Why sure it is since it is a “Right” guaranteed by the US Constitution and Bill of Rights to bear arms. There is nothing in those foundation documents about owning a pet.
The same buck tooth jackass. Passed if you don’t have health insurance in New Jersey you will be fined by the state. Nice job libtarrds. While your at it raise property tax some more. Not like it’s high enough.
That discriminates against poor people. It’s like a poll tax, but instead of discouraging the ‘underclass’ to vote, it discourages them from owning guns.
The “fee” increases would make it extremely difficult, if not virtually impossible, for low income persons (or those with fixed incomes) to acquire firearms ID cards and handgun purchase permits. With rare exceptions, handguns are not really budget friendly to begin with. Then you add in the cost of ammunition…
Those concealed carry permit rate hikes are only going to affect the rich, judges, lawyers, the politically connected and cops as they are the only ones that can “get” a concealed carry permit in New Jersey.
WTF is a dog permit? I cannot take anything serious from a group of people who subject themselves to….. Nevermind.
They won’t make any money with a $400 carry permit because only the politically connected can get a carry permit in the Peoples Republic of Natzi Jersey.
Welcome to the new improved Jim Crow laws. This law impacts poor minorities and prevents them from protecting themselves. Democrats scream about voter id and claim poor minorities can’t afford to get it, yet have no problem making sure they keep them disarmed and on the plantation. People need to yell long and loud about the racial aspect of this.
It is the equivalent of a poll tax and should be struck down
In NJ one need a license to have a dog?
Land of the free for sure…
Any left wing protest about damaging the poor’s ability to excercise their right to own a gun as there is for a free voter ID card? Just wondering!
Has there ever been a state or country with strict firearm laws that didn’t think they needed to “tighten them up and close all the loop holes”
I propose a “Politician Permit”. $1,000 for city and county. $1 million for state. $100 million for federal. After all, politicians are more dangerous than guns.
Best idea on this page.
New commieJersey……give up your rights to defend yourself so criminals have more power…..or pay us money so you can attempt to
Do a p-test on the Gov…he’s gotta be on ‘crack’!…who in the hell in there right mind would consider such an appalling idea!!…either that or he’s bat-shit-nuts!…seriously!..someone needs stop that from happening!
I asked the governor during a TV spot (via email) Which of the 6 new gun laws prevented the mass shooting in Trenton last week…as per usual there was a deflection about “illegal guns”. I love my state and family, so moving is not an option, but the problem isnt the 1 million law abiding gun owners, its the 4 million urban democrats that have a very myopic view that “guns are bad and if you disagree you are literately Hitler”
The power to tax is the power to destroy! That is an old saying, but especially applies in this case.
Hey , if it works for cigarettes , perhaps firearms are next ?
Freedom of choice ? ……….Anyone ?
Do as the Cadre say . Don’t ask questions .
Oh. So it’s ‘okay’ – as long as you cough up $$ for a state that’s nearly insolvent?
Hypocrisy much?
Alex had the same thought I did. This is no different than a poll tax. People could say that the fee to buy a gun is used to pay for the background check, but voters don’t pay a fee to pay for the state workers to verify their residency when they register to vote. Neither do they pay a fee to pay for the poll workers and the voting machines. That comes out of the general fund of the state. Background checks for gun ownership should too.
Jersey needs to water the tree of liberty
New Jersey firearms laws and the “Warrior elite” philosophy of the higher ups in NJ law enforcement are one of the reasons I moved to Florida 37 years ago. If the knee jerk reactions become a problem in Florida I will move to Texas.
The people of New Jersey just keep voting these constitution haters into office just like the fools in California.
You get just what you “VOTE FOR”
And the gangsbangers, murders, and other criminals will gleefully pony up the extra money for the proper permits right after they knock some little old ladies over the head and steal their social security money.
Isn’t this racist? What about the poor black and brown people that don’t have enough money to afford a $5.00 voter ID card?
This amounts to infringment, a direct violation of the 2nd Amendment. Winable law suit!
The conceal carry is only for security guards or for someone with enough money for lawyers to help them get a permit , an honest citizen can’t get a permit without having to give a reason justifying the need . They deem is good enough . The right to own is no better . The 2nd amendment means nothing to them .
New Jersey is a state run by criminals , And weasels .
They want to push their own personal agendas . They are working on taking away our rights
The government wants to make criminals out of us , don’t we have enough of them in jails and prisons who do belong in them .
There are many countries in the world that severely restrict gun ownership. On a practical basis that means the only people who own guns are the wealthy and powerful, the military, the police, and criminals. The common people are shut out. That is the idea Murphy is trying advance in New Jersey.
It is not the only stupid tax increase or other change he has introduced, and the results will be predictable. More population loss, more productive people leaving, more crime, more homelessness, fewer resources for essential services, more government corruption, worse schools, higher prices. I hate being part of this experiment.
I think he needs to check on the fee facts on purchases and permit fees , ID’s fees the same goes for the criminal background , you pay at your local police and state police fees and then when you make the purchase you pay again for the same criminal background check .. In my opinion that is like paying a mechanic for repairs before and then paying again after the repairs are done .
Paying for the same service twice is theft . This does not make any intelligent sense , that logic only would come from a collage graduate , who is trying to be a hero to the public ( gun hatters )
Sounds to me like the citizens of NJ need to call for a special election and kick the bum Murphy out on his can! Rights are not privileges by the amount of money you spend to exercise them!
This Governor and his followers need to undergo retraining in the US Constitution, its meaning and application, and the concept of his position/job, who he works for and his upside down logic and reasoning.
His proposals do nothing to reduce gun violence, remove guns from the streets nor empower the State and Local Police to do so. These proposals will affect only the law abiding citizens of the State, put a smile on the anti-gun nuts and Democrats. Just another reason to leave the state
Seems to me this should be an easy win for a lawsuit, charging citizens a fee to exercise a constitutional right is bullshit. This would be on par with charging people to vote.
Just following Maryland’s lead. Only cheaper.
What this former banker fails to realize is hiking up CC permit prices, and purchase permit prices will not affect convicted felons because they don’t use the same venues that us law abiding citizens use. This does NOT affect criminals at all, just law abiding citizens. This guy has no clue, or maybe he does. Seems like his agenda is to disarm everybody in New Jersey. I wonder if that includes his protection detail. I’m guessing NOT.
Completely UNCONSTITUTIONAL if they were able to charge you a tax to exercise an enumerated right, then POLL taxes would be legal… which I would be totally for.
I need to get rid of that Democratic governor that’s all it’s about for these Democrats it’s all about making money for themselves.
Just another way to prevent people from owning guns. Price them out of the reach of the poor. I’ll bet they will soon “amend” existing laws that cause you to lose your gun rights, so that one day even jay-walking will take them away. The whole time the federal government, the great protector of the Constitution, does nothing.
This my fellow gun owners is what every Communisr Governor is going to do. Confiscation too. Florida is next. The only response is vote vote vote. Then mass resistance.
JAQUE , Florida is not next buddy. Florida has the best Governor in the country.
Dumbascrap Party cabal highway robbery…
The 2nd Amendment is my concealed carry permit. “The difference between a criminal and an outlaw is that while criminals frequently are victims, outlaws never are. Indeed, the first step toward becoming a true outlaw is the refusal to be victimized. Law abiding gun owners will never surrender. “Come And Take Them”. All people who live subject to other people’s Anti-2A laws are victims.