I believe there will be audio or video streaming of the proceedings at this link:
The Bills:
I don’t see A5210, the “entire family needs to be background checked” bill in the list.
The ‘Sponsor’ column is a handy guide to elected officials who aren’t spending time addressing the real issues in NJ.
https://www.anjrpc.org/page/BigMistakeNJDemsAttack2AAgain
A4976 Styled as a “reckless discharge” ban, the bill is actually a hidden attack on right to carry by licensed carry permit holders, who can be imprisoned for discharging a firearm "unlawfully or without a lawful purpose"within 100 yards of an occupied structure or an educational institution (regardless of whether occupied).The bill can be used to second-guess every lawful exercise of self-defense, which will be nit-picked and declared “unlawful” to invoke the bill’s severe punishments against law-abiding citizens with carry permits.No attempt is made to protect self-defense by licensed carry permit holders in the bill – which could have easily been added.New Jersey already has an abysmal track record of contorting criminal laws to go after carry permit holders, including recently charging a carry permit holder under “red flag” laws for simply drawing (and not firing) his firearm when confronted (ANJRPC is currently suing the state over this).This new legislation is a thinly-veiled attempt to manufacture yet another false basis to charge carry permit holders for no good reason.
A4975 Makes it a crime merely to possess certain digital 3D printer files.It’s not enough that existing law already bans the act of 3D-printing firearms;Under this over-the-top proposal, citizens can do hard time merely for having a digital computer file – whether they use it or not.Merely possessing a computer file equals doing hard time.
A1389 Requires seizure of ammunition and firearms accessories like grips for those accused of domestic violence – even if the allegations are fabricated.Like NJ’s existing firearms seizure law, there would be no requirement that the allegations be true, and there is no consequence for fabricating allegations.And, accessories entirely unrelated to the function of the firearm, like grips, are to be seized as if they are a threat to anyone.
A4974 Machine guns are already prohibited under state and federal law.This legislation creates new crimes for possessing or selling a machine gun “conversion device,” which could mean previously-lawful devices that cause a semi-automatic firearm to cycle more rapidly (rather than changing the way the trigger functions from semi-automatic to fully automatic).It also opens the door to prosecution of vendors from other states who sell devices lawfully elsewhere, but which end up in New Jersey.
Update from Joe Loporto @ NJ Firearms Owners Syndicate:
Quick Legislative Update
As many of you know, three weeks ago 10 gun control related bills got first readings before the Assembly Judiciary Committee and, as usual, all ten bills were passed in the committee and referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
There was a slot on the calendar last week for the Appropriations Committee but no session was ultimately scheduled.
It’s possible they could sneak a slot in over the next few weeks but for the moment, there does not appear to be a window for committee groups in March.
April is essentially a black out month for legislative action as the entire month is reserved for annual state budget negotiations.
The gun control bill package is unlikely to make any more forward progress until May/June which means there will be a very short window for movement on Senate versions of these bill before the summer break.
With April’s focus on the state budget, members should focus on continuing to contact the entire assembly and senate to continue to voice opposition to Gov. Murphy’s plan to increase fees on firearms permits and licensing and excise taxes on firearms and ammunition. Link below to continue to hammer on the budget.
I wrote about it two weeks ago, but of the 10 bills on the floor, one of those ten bills would be completely shut down by federal legislation currently on the floor in Washington DC.
HR 1181 is now up 79 co-sponsors and we are still waiting on the NJ Republican delegation. Thank you to everyone who called Rep’s Chris Smith and Tom Kean Jr.
Jeff Van Drew is still looking at the bill and will likely co-sponsor but we we need to continue to contact all of our congressmen.
After the next few weeks, we are going to switch to a summer long campaign on HR 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.
While Republicans hold a slight majority, no piece of federal legislation will advance without 100% support amongst the Republican delegation. What that means is that Reps like Tom Kean Jr and Chris Smith can fully shut down any federal effort in Congress. Without their votes, no bill will pass the House and Chris Smith has never voted with his Republican colleagues on Pro-2A legislation and has voted numerous times for gun control sponsored by Democrats.
H.R. 38 has 177 co-sponsors. Jeff Van Drew has already co-sponsored HR 38.
218 votes are needed to pass the House.
So, email your state senators and assemblymen on the current budget proposal:
Oppose the 2026 Budget Targeting NJ Gun Owners – New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate
Call and email Reps Chris Smith and Tom Kean Jr on HR 1181 and separately on HR 38.
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/hr1181/cosponsors
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