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Introduced by State Senator John Girgenti (D-35), S1304 is an ill-conceived attempt to address gang violence. The bill is likely to have severe unintended consequences against the Garden State’s law-abiding gun owners, such as posing a risk of lengthy incarceration to otherwise law-abiding gun owners who were turned into criminals overnight in 1990 by New Jersey's vague and confusing “assault firearms” ban. That law banned many commonly owned firearms, including certain .22 rifles, target guns, M1 Carbines, and any semi-automatic shotguns which hold over 6 rounds or have a pistol grip (like Remington 11-87 turkey hunting models).

The most well known example of inappropriate prosecution under the ban is the Pelleteri case, which upheld a conviction for possession of a .22 rifle (Marlin model 60) as an "assault firearm" because the internal tube magazine held 17 rounds, two more than the state allowed limit of 15. Even though the rifle was legally purchased prior to the ban's enactment, the court nonetheless convicted him, holding "WHEN DEALING WITH GUNS, THE CITIZEN ACTS AT HIS PERIL." The court described the .22 as a "highly dangerous offensive weapon."

Many honest gun owners do not know that their lawfully acquired firearms were banned. Further, there is currently no legal way to comply with the ban by registering, disposing of, or rending such firearms inoperable. S1304 makes the mistake of demonizing hardware instead of punishing criminal behavior, and in the process puts otherwise law-abiding gun owners at risk of being prosecuted as if they were violent criminals.

Please contact the Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose or amend the bill to protect honest gun owners! Contact information can be found below.

State Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs Committee:

State Senator John Girgenti (D-35), Chairman
(973) 427-1229
SenGirgenti@njleg.org

State Senator Brian Stack (D-33), Vice-Chair
(201) 330-3233
SenStack@njleg.org

State Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25)
(973) 627-9700
SenBucco@njleg.org

State Senator Christopher Connors (R-9)
(609)-693-6700
SenConnors@njleg.org

State Senator Nicholas Sacco (D-32)
(201)-295-0200
SenSacco@njleg.org