Trenton, NJ — The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has taken a resolute stand against efforts to relax firearm restrictions, filing friend-of-the-court briefs in two separate cases that challenge common-sense weapon regulations.
The state has joined forces with other states to support Delaware’s assault weapons and large-capacity magazines (LCMs) restrictions in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Additionally, New Jersey and 25 other states have filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that would allow domestic violence abusers to access firearms.
In the Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association v. Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security case, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware previously upheld the constitutionality of Delaware’s assault weapons and LCMs restrictions against a Second Amendment challenge.
New Jersey co-led an amicus brief representing 18 states that support maintaining these laws, emphasizing the public-safety risks associated with assault weapons and LCMs, which have been used in some of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States.
In the United States v. Rahimi case, the Fifth Circuit overturned a federal law prohibiting individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders from accessing guns. The defendant, who was under a domestic violence restraining order, challenged the statute’s constitutionality based on Second Amendment grounds.
New Jersey and 25 other states filed an amicus brief requesting the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse this ruling, highlighting the importance of keeping firearms out of the hands of domestic violence abusers, a measure that has been shown to reduce homicides of intimate partners and law enforcement officers.
These legal actions reflect New Jersey’s commitment to public safety and the protection of its residents. “States are responsible for the public health and safety of their residents, and there is no greater health issue in protecting the public’s safety than curtailing gun violence,” stated First Assistant Attorney General Lyndsay V. Ruotolo. “That holds true whether we are talking about a victim of domestic violence or shielding New Jerseyans from the kind of mass casualties that are too common as a result of dangerous weapons and features like assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.”
The Attorney General’s office, along with its counterparts from various states, argues that common-sense firearm laws do not infringe on Second Amendment rights. They emphasize that states have a responsibility to protect their communities by imposing restrictions on dangerous weapons and accessories that pose threats. The brief underscores that assault weapons and LCMs are not suitable for self-defense and that the historical context of firearm restrictions supports the constitutionality of such laws.
As the debate on firearm regulations continues, New Jersey remains steadfast in its dedication to maintaining measures that prioritize public safety and mitigate the risk of gun violence.