TRENTON, NJ – Andy Kim, a Democrat Congressman in New Jersey who has supported strict gun control legislation and assault weapons bans in the past, is once again calling for new gun control laws. This time, Kim is calling for all legally registered and licensed gun owners to re-license after a period of five years.
He also wants New Jersey gun owners to have to obtain federal firearms permits and undergo a federal training program to keep their guns. If they don’t they will lose their guns and could be put in jail.
The bill, requiring individuals to secure a firearm license from the Department of Justice (DOJ), was reintroduced by Congressman Andy Kim. Kim was a major supporter of the failed 2021 federal assault weapons ban legislation.
Under Kim’s law, it shall be a federal crime to possess a firearm without a federal firearms license, nullifying existing New Jersey firearms licensing laws.
To obtain a federal firearm license, Kim is demanding that all gun owners complete firearms safety training, pass a written test, and demonstrate hands-on firearms use, including accuracy.
That license would only be valid for five years and gun owners would have to repeat the process, or face losing their guns, being fined, or worse, going to jail.
Who gets a gun in New Jersey would be left to the politically appointed attorney general. The attorney general would be able to conduct his own investigation into an individual to determine that person’s moral standing before issuing a license.
Under the law, simply owning guns and purchasing ammunition could raise a red flag as to whether or not somebody can get a federal license.
Denied applicants would have to take their case to court in order to overturn the decision.
The law also allows for the confiscation of firearms for anyone who has a valid New Jersey firearms I.D., but fails the new federal eligibility standards.
Anyone with a firearms I.D. will also be entered into the federal Rap Back system, which allows the FBI to conduct a background check on a person ‘in public trust’ at any time, without cause and notice.
The law does allow for state licensing, only if the states adhere to the same standards. New Jersey licensing does not require testing or training, making New Jersey’s licensing system invalid and state firearms i.d. null and void.