NJ Assembly/ammo ban update
posted as of Tuesday, January 31
GUN OWNERS PREVAIL IN TRENTON!
After a massive outcry from the Second Amendment community against A588 (backdoor ammo ban) and A1013 (defacing firearms – unintended consequences), the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee “held” A588 and amended A1013 in response to gun owner concerns.
The effect of holding A588 is to send it back to the drawing board for further review and amendment, and this legislation that would have opened the door to a sweeping ammunition ban will not advance in its present form.
The amendments to A1013 are still under review, but it is very apparent from the actions of the Committee and the on-the-record statements made by its members that the Committee has heard honest gun owners loud and clear.
We will continue to monitor these bills and dozens of others that we are watching and provide early warning of threats to our Second Amendment rights.
And thank you for your calls, faxes and emails to the Committee members!
information posted on the Association of NJ Rifle & Pistol Club website on January 27
NJ ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
TO CONSIDER AMMO BAN & MORE!
A588 would enable the Attorney General to ban handgun and rifle ammunition by executive fiat.
Common hunting, target, and self-defense ammunition would be subject to ban under A588, along with BB’s, airgun pellets, and plastic airsoft pellets!
Additional legislation being considered (A1013) could land gun owners in jail for refinished or damaged firearms that might be deemed “defaced”
On Monday, January 30 at 2:00 p.m. the New Jersey Assembly Law & Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider A588, legislation that would enable the Attorney General to ban all handgun and most rifle ammunition if he unilaterally determines that it “poses a threat to the safety and well being of law enforcement officers.”
Cleverly disguised as police safety legislation aimed at armor piercing ammunition (which is already prohibited under federal and state law), the measure actually opens the door to a sweeping ammunition ban by an unelected public official by executive fiat. Common hunting, target, and self-defense ammunition would be subject to ban, along with BB’s, airgun pellets, and non-metallic ammunition like plastic airsoft pellets, if the Attorney General decides that they pose a threat to the safety and well being of law enforcement.
Although the bill only mentions handgun ammunition, it is in fact not limited to handgun ammunition, and would apply to all rifle ammunition for which a handgun is ever made. As an increasing number of gun manufacturers make handgun models that shoot rifle caliber ammunition, the line between “handgun” vs. “rifle” ammunition has become blurred, and the New Jersey State Police have already begun treating rifle ammunition in this category as if it were handgun ammunition for regulatory purposes. So long as a handgun exists that shoots a particular caliber of rifle ammunition, New Jersey treats that ammunition as if it were handgun ammunition.
The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee is also scheduled to consider A1013on Monday. One provision of this police safety legislation significantly increases the penalties relating to “defaced” firearms. Because of New Jersey’s longstanding poorly crafted definition of “defaced” firearms, it is possible that refinishing a firearm, or long-term damage from rust or scratches from ordinary wear and tear, could be deemed “defacement” subjecting honest gun owners to lengthy prison sentences, even though identifying information on the firearm is still legible.
PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CONTACT MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE!
TELL THEM TO VOTE “NO” ON A588 – BACKDOOR AMMUNITION BAN!
TELL THEM TO VOTE “NO” OR AMEND A1013 TO PROTECT HONEST GUN OWNERS FROM SEVERE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES!
MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:
Charles Mainor (Chair) (D31)
Phone: 201-536-7851
Fax: 201-536-7854
Gilbert L. Wilson (Vice Chair) (D5)
Phone: 856-547-4800
Fax: 856-547-5496
Nelson T. Albano (D1)
Phone: 609-465-0700
Fax: 609-465-4578
Daniel R. Benson (D14)
Phone: 609-631-0198
Fax: 609-631-0324
Sean Connors (D33)
Joseph Cryan (D20)
Phone: 908-624-0880
Fax: 908-624-0587
Sean T. Kean (R30)
Phone: 732-974-0400
Fax: 732-974-2564
Gregory P. McGuckin (R10)
Phone: 732-974-0400
Fax: 732-840-9757
Erik Peterson (R23)
Phone: 908-238-0251
Fax: 908-238-0256
David P. Rible (R30)
Phone: 732-974-1719
Fax: 732-974-3615
Bonnie Watson Coleman (D15)
Phone: 609-292-0500
Fax: 609-633-2179
