A federal judge has allowed the National Rifle Association to join a constitutional lawsuit challenging New Jersey’s one-gun-a-month law, adding one of the nation’s largest gun rights organizations to the case.
Camden, NJ – A federal judge has granted a request by the National Rifle Association to join an ongoing federal lawsuit challenging New Jersey’s “one-gun-a-month” firearms law, expanding a closely watched Second Amendment case already pending against the state.
In an opinion and order, the U.S. District Court approved a motion filed by plaintiffs Matthew Struck, Daniel Francisco and the Firearms Policy Coalition to amend their complaint and add the NRA as a plaintiff in the consolidated litigation.
Challenge targets New Jersey firearm law
The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of New Jersey’s one-gun-a-month law, which generally limits handgun purchases to one firearm within a 30-day period.
The litigation combines two previously filed lawsuits against New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan. Last year, the court consolidated the cases after finding they raised identical constitutional questions and carried the risk of conflicting rulings if litigated separately.
Judge permits NRA to enter case
State attorneys opposed the amendment, arguing the plaintiffs waited too long to seek the change after the scheduling deadline had passed.
The court disagreed, finding the plaintiffs demonstrated good cause because the NRA did not retain their attorneys to participate in the litigation until mid-October 2025, months after the amendment deadline had expired. The judge concluded the plaintiffs acted diligently once the organization decided to join the case and granted the motion to amend.
The ruling does not address whether New Jersey’s one-gun-a-month law is constitutional. Instead, it allows the NRA to participate as an additional plaintiff as the Second Amendment challenge moves forward.
Key Points
- A federal judge allowed the National Rifle Association to join a lawsuit challenging New Jersey’s one-gun-a-month law.
- The lawsuit argues the state’s handgun purchase limit violates the Second Amendment.
- The court’s ruling expands the list of plaintiffs but does not decide the constitutionality of the law.
