NEW JERSEY — New Jersey lawmakers gave final approval Monday to legislation revising the rules for obtaining a firearms permit following this summer’s US Supreme Court ruling expanded the rights of weapons.
The Democratic-led Senate approved the measure in what is scheduled to be the last voting session of the year, sending the legislation to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. In an emailed statement, Murphy’s spokesman, Tyler Jones, said the governor would “promptly” sign the bill into law.
“Since the first day of his administration, Governor Murphy has expressed his support for stronger gun safety laws in the state of New Jersey,” Jones said.
Republicans opposed the measure, raising questions regarding its constitutionality, and gun rights advocates predicted it would fail the constitutional test.
“The Second Amendment cannot be ignored because the majority party in New Jersey doesn’t like it,” Republican state Sen. Ed Durr said during a House floor debate. No Democrats spoke in favor of the measure Monday, but earlier they said they believed the measure is constitutional.
The legislation removes New Jersey’s current requirement that those seeking a permit to carry a firearm show “good cause” and be of “good character” to reflect the Supreme Court’s June ruling.
Other changes in the legislation include disqualifications for those who have been imprisoned for their mental health, people who have had restraining orders as any “fugitive from justice.”
The measure calls for an end to a paper permit system that used quadruplicate documents to register applicants. It would also establish an online arms sales portal that has yet to be created.
Increase from three to four the number of visas for people outside the family to obtain a permit. They would also have to be interviewed by law enforcement officials.
The measure also increases training requirements, requiring online, in-person classroom, and target shooting instruction. And it would require permit holders to carry liability insurance.
It prohibits people from carrying luggage in many public places, including state buildings, schools, polling places, day care centers, publicly owned parks and beaches, as well as concert halls and bars.
New Jersey requires permits to both purchase and carry firearms. Firearm purchase permits would go from $2 to $25 under the measure. For other firearms, the fee ranges from $5 to $50. The measure requires a $200 fee for a carrier permit. Current applications include a $50 fee. The fee increase would allow local governments to keep $150 for the cost of processing, with the rest going to the state’s crime victim compensation office.
Scott Bach, head of the New Jersey Association of Rifle and Pistol Clubs, predicted Monday that the bill would “catch fire” and amount to a “big middle finger” for the Supreme Court.
