Anti-gun lawmakers in New Jersey are rushing to restrict 2A rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark Bruen decision, which declared that “may-issue” concealed carry licensing schemes are unconstitutional.
The measure, known as A4769, is being fast-tracked in the Legislature.
A4769 would do all of the following, among other provisions:
- Establishes a thorough vetting process for those who apply for concealed carry permits by increasing the number of non-family references who must vouch for applicants, and creating new disqualifications from the permit process such as “character of temperament” and past violations of restraining orders and convictions.
- Prohibits permit holders from carrying handguns in broad categories including schools, government buildings, polling places, bars and restaurants, theaters, sporting arenas, parks, airports, casinos and childcare facilities.
- Requires property owners to opt into allowing permittees to carry on their premises.
- Requires concealed-carry permittees to undergo gun safety training, including a gun range qualification.
- Imposes new insurance requirements on handgun ownership to ensure victims of an accidental discharge are appropriately compensated and protected.
- Increases permitting fees across the board to cover the cost of stepped-up background checks and these new provisions.
- Funds the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) by channeling revenue from the increased fees.
The bill’s primary sponsor is Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-Somerset). Danielsen is an army veteran and gun owner who believes the new measure is “commonsense.”
“As a recreational hunter, I know that commonsense gun reform doesn’t stop sportsmen like me from continuing traditions that have been passed down through our families for generations,” said Assemblyman Danielsen in a press release obtained by GunsAmerica.
“And, as a father, I know how important it is to keep our communities and schools safe. There is nothing at odds with promoting responsible gun ownership, gun safety, gun education, and gun training while upholding the Second Amendment,” he continued.
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A4769 cleared a committee this week by a vote of 3-2. Since Democrats control both the General Assembly and the Senate, it’s likely to wind up on the desk of Gov. Phil Murphy, who is also a Democrat.
Murphy has made his intentions clear as to whether he would sign A4769 into law:
The Supreme Court made a disastrous decision that makes it easier for people to obtain permits to carry firearms in public. This decision will not make us safer.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) October 13, 2022
I look forward to signing a bill into law that protects the public from gun violence.https://t.co/4VsEqEnkoQ
Scott Bach, the head of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, does not believe the measure passes constitutional muster.
“This bill is a big middle finger to the United States Supreme Court,” Bach told NJ.com.
“Like it or not, New Jersey is now a carry state,” Bach said. “Respectfully, that doesn’t mean you get to do an end-run around carry. And that’s what this bill is.”
A similar bill restricting carry rights has already been enacted in New York following Bruen. But as GunsAmerica has previously reported, the new law, known as the “Concealed Carry Improvement Act,” is currently being challenged in court.
There’s little doubt that if New Jersey follows suit and rolls out A4769, it too will face an onslaught of legal challenges from pro-2A groups.
Stay tuned for updates.
This is nothing new. Look at what happen when the Civil Rights Act was law in 1965. Resistance was not based on logic but on cultural emotionalism. States that had white voters who abhor being next to blacks pressured their state officials to pass laws to counter equal rights for blacks. Another decade had to pass before these states finally accepted that blacks can be working and existing next to whites in public as each legal ruse was batted down by the courts. The anti gunners oppose guns based on emotions and cultural conditioning that started since the 1960’s. They will play the same game as the irrational racists of the past and force their state officials to exhaust all legal resistance to gun rights, Figure another 10 years of legal resistance. We have to be as tough and persistent as they are and wear them out. The anti gunners have one advantage that the racist did not, they have academia and the media on their side. Our advantage is we have the Supreme Court ruling on our side. What we must have from this point onward, is a GOP executive branch who will have a DOJ who will enforce the Supreme Court rulings. If DJT was President he can order the states to comply with Supreme Court. If the state refuses, he can declare them in a state of insurrection. It means the state’s Senators in the US Senate and their reps in the House no longer are legitimate. They cannot vote. The state reverts back to the status of a US territory. The state must re apply to join the United States. In the mean time any county in that state who do not want to live under liberal tyranny can unite with other like mind counties and apply as a new state. Example NY upper counties can apply to become a state in the US leaving the New York City on their own. Read how West Virginia was formed from Virginia during the American Civil War in 1860.
If this so-called gun owning politician/sportsman wants to enact these extreme policies on law abiding citizens, then the exact same policies should be forced on all police officers and bodyguards that politicians employ for their protection. And that means they cannot carry in any the same places citizens aren’t permitted to, must be vetted the same way if they perform private security which would include paying for said vetting out of their own pocket, must purchase insurance on their own dime and not be insured by their agency, not be allowed to carry in businesses that don’t allow concealed carry and be restricted to the same firearms and reduced magazine capacities as civilians. And by the way, I am a retired LEO who is not in any way opposed to LEO’s who perform a thankless job whatsoever, but the law should be applied equally, because as politicians like to say “no one is above the law”. I can already hear the howling now!
If only we could have the same requirements for the consumers of alcohol and psychoactive drugs in New Jersey. I bet half the legislators there would give up their jobs.
Each and Everyone of these “politicians” who “propose” and ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL “bill” MUST be held PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for ANY FINANCIAL LOSS! There MUST be a LAW past that, in essence, will get these ANTI-CONSTITUTIONALISTS DISBARRED and PERMANENTLY BARRED from holding ANY Public Office since they HAVE ABDICATED their OATH OF OFFICE!!
Nj and Ny are commie states .
Oh brother, another intellectual genius making these imbecilic comments. Because you don’t agree does not make something “commie” or socialist, like all the mental midgets spout out with abandon, without even any education as to what they are stating.
Somewhere a circus is missing their clown, Tom go back already.
If you want to grow up and be a big boy or girl…..move out of that shitty state. I am done worrying about people in those Commi states. Those idiots keep electing those idiots. Let them have their cake and eat it too!
Yet another genius with this “Commie” BS – because you are an uneducated idiot like so many others, why not crawl back under your rock so you don’t make such a fool of yourself, or joint the Trump psychoses and all of you can share your idiotic statements and conspiracy theories
Looks like tom’s a bit of a genius himself,lol.
Schiff flows downhill … and New Jersey is SOUTH of NEW YORK !!!