Last Tuesday, the first day of the 215th session of the New Jersey Legislature, Assembly Bill 857 was introduced.
Introduced by Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose (R-24), A 857 would repeal New Jersey’s law which allows residents to purchase only one handgun per month. Current law states, “A dealer shall not knowingly deliver more than one handgun to any person within any 30-day period.”
Supporters of gun rationing claim that this law is needed to prevent criminals from buying large quantities of handguns for illegal resale. The following are three reasons why gun rationing should be repealed:
- Criminals do not buy firearms from licensed firearm dealers (FFL’s), who are required to clear a purchaser through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
- Firearm dealers are required to report to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) and state or local law enforcement officials any person who buys more than one handgun in a five-day period.
- Under the federal law, interstate handgun sales have been prohibited since 1968.
New Jersey’s gun rationing law only affects law-abiding gun owners and does nothing to prevent criminals from breaking a law they violate anyway.
No action is needed on your part at this time, but please continue to check www.NRAILA.org and your e-mail for more updates on this important issue.