Trenton, NJ – Can the government tax constitutional rights? The answer apparently, is yes, and now Governor Phil Murphy wants to increase taxes on guns and ammo.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has reignited controversy over gun rights with a new proposal to increase taxes and fees on firearms and ammunition, a move critics are calling an assault on the Second Amendment. The Democratic governor, now in his second term, unveiled the plan as part of his broader fiscal year 2026 budget, aiming to generate additional revenue while advancing his long-standing gun safety agenda.
Murphy’s budget, presented in late February, includes a two-pronged approach targeting gun owners: a 2.5% excise tax on all firearm sales and a 10% tax on ammunition purchases.
That’s okay. You can go to Pennsylvania and buy it in bulk.
Additionally, the plan calls for significant hikes in fees for firearm purchaser identification (FID) cards and related permits.
For example, the cost of an FID card, currently $5, would jump to $100, while handgun carry permits could rise from $50 to as much as $400. The administration estimates these measures could bring in upwards of $9 million annually, funds Murphy says will support law enforcement, mental health services, and efforts to combat gun violence.
“This is about keeping our communities safe and ensuring that those who choose to exercise their Second Amendment rights contribute to the broader public good,” Murphy said during a press conference in Trenton. “The fees haven’t been updated in decades, and it’s time we align them with the realities of today.”
The proposal echoes earlier efforts by Murphy, who has consistently pushed for stricter gun laws since taking office in 2018. In 2019, he advocated for similar fee increases and taxes, though they faced resistance in the state legislature and fierce opposition from gun rights advocates. This latest iteration comes on the heels of California’s pioneering 11% excise tax on guns and ammo, implemented in 2023, which Murphy has cited as a model.
Gun rights groups and Republican lawmakers have swiftly condemned the proposal, arguing it unfairly burdens law-abiding citizens and infringes on constitutional rights. Scott Bach, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, called the tax plan “a blatant attempt to price people out of their Second Amendment freedoms.”
