New Jersey: Senate Adds Pair of Gun Bills To Monday’s Agenda

The year may have changed, but the mission of anti-gun lawmakers in Trenton has not.   Late Friday, the legislature posted two anti-Second Amendment bills for floor action Monday, January 12 in the Senate.  The 2025 session ends January 13.  The legislature is trying to push these bills through the final step of the process and onto Gov. Phil Murphy before the clock runs out. 

S.3893/A.4974 prescribes penalties for the sale and possession of “machine gun conversion devices.”  Such devices are already banned at both the state and federal level.  There has never been an explanation why this bill is necessary.  Given that New Jersey’s definition would differ from the federal definition, this only makes the water murkier.  

S.3895/A.4976 establishes the crime of reckless discharge.  Discharging a firearm in New Jersey is already a crime unless done “for a lawful purpose,” which is an affirmative defense.  Given the lack of exceptions in both existing New Jersey law and this legislation, successfully raising such a defense would be exceedingly difficult.  This is nothing more than a swipe at concealed carry.  Now, every time a firearm is used, even in legitimate situations, rogue prosecutors will have even more ability to bring charges.   

Please contact your Senator immediately and respectfully request a NO vote on both bills.

Please stay tuned to the NRA-ILA website and your inbox for updates.