TRENTON, N.J. — Black residents in New Jersey were denied firearm permits at disproportionately higher rates than white applicants, according to a study by the advocacy group Rise Against Hate.
The study, which cites previous reporting on the issue, found that across the state, Black applicants were denied permits more than 10 times as often as white applicants under a subjective licensing standard. Some counties reported even higher disparities, with Ocean County showing 52.6 times more denials for Black applicants.
Earlier research conducted in 2024 suggested a lower but still significant disparity of 2.5 to 2.6 times more denials for Black applicants than white applicants. Rise Against Hate’s independent investigation found the numbers were even higher when normalized statewide.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin’s office declined to comment on the findings when contacted multiple times. Governor Phil Murphy’s press office did not respond to multiple inquiries, including a formal letter sent by mail.
The study’s findings were presented in September at the Gun Rights Policy Conference in San Diego, where researchers detailed systemic disparities in New Jersey’s firearm permitting process.
New Jersey’s subjective firearm licensing system remains under scrutiny as calls for transparency and reform grow.
