Washington, D.C. — Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation, in collaboration with the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners, have filed a legal challenge against New Jersey’s stringent handgun permitting requirements and the state’s “one gun a month” law.
The challenged policies include several steps that New Jersey residents must follow to obtain a handgun permit:
- Providing character references
- Undergoing fingerprinting
- Paying multiple fees
- Enduring two separate waiting periods totaling up to 37 days
- Undergoing two separate background checks
The Permit to Purchase a Handgun in New Jersey is valid for only 90 days and allows the purchase of a single handgun. Some counties have reportedly delayed permit issuance by up to six months. Additionally, New Jersey restricts handgun purchases to one per month.
GOA’s Senior Vice President, Erich Pratt, stated, “New Jersey represents the worst of the worst when it comes to gun control. As highlighted in our suit, residents of the state don’t have to undergo such an extensive and onerous process in order to exercise any other enumerated constitutional right. We’re very optimistic that this case will eventually be the means by which we finally dismantle New Jersey’s unconstitutional permitting policies and liberate their citizens from their anti-gun tyranny.”
Sam Paredes, speaking for the GOF board, added, “Governor Murphy and AG Platkin have repeatedly and insubordinately bemoaned the Second Amendment and federal court rulings that overturned gun control for years now, and we are excited to finally be confronting these tyrants head on. As we’ve been telling policymakers since the Bruen decision, fall in line, or we will make you.”
GOA, a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization, is dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.
GOA spokesmen are available for interviews.