New Jersey: Assembly Bill Plagued By Dangerous Provisions

“Defaced” gun bill has potential to ensnare law-abiding gun owners

Tomorrow, February 6 at 2:00 p.m., the New Jersey Assembly Law & Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider Assembly Bill 823.  Sponsored by Assemblyman Charles Mainor (D-31), A.823 is police safety legislation that includes a number of items.  However, A. 823 also contains a provision that increases penalties related to “defaced” firearms.

Due to New Jersey’s ambiguous and broad definition of “defaced” firearms, it is possible that honest citizens could be unintentionally caught by A.823, facing lengthy prison sentences.  Even though identifying information on the firearm is still legible, simply refinishing a firearm, normal wear and tear, scratches and/or rust could all be deemed as “defacement.”  If considered as such, refinishing a firearm, or possessing a damaged firearm, could result in a ten-year jail sentence, and buying or selling a refinished, rusted or scratched firearm could result in a five-year jail sentence.

In 2012, these same concerns were raised by the NRA when an earlier version of this legislation was considered by the same committee.  These concerns were acknowledged at the time and amendments were promised but never implemented.  This newly introduced version continues to not address the concerns of lawful gun owners.  A.823 could easily be amended to address these concerns without compromising its crime prevention purpose.

Please contact members of the Assembly Law & Public Safety Committee.  Respectfully ask them to amend A.823 to protect legal gun owners from severe unintended consequences.

Assembly Law & Public Safety Committee:

AssemblymanCharles Mainor (D-31), Chairman
(201) 536-7851
AsmMainor@njleg.org
  
AssemblymanGilbert L. Wilson (D-5), Vice-Chairman
(856) 547-4800
AsmWilson@njleg.org
  
AssemblymanJoseph Cryan (D-20)
(908) 624-0880
AsmCryan@njleg.org
  
AssemblymanGregory P. McGuckin (R-10)
(732) 840-9028
AsmMcGuckin@njleg.org
  
AssemblymanErik Peterson (R-23)
(908) 238-0251
AsmPeterson@njleg.org
  
Assemblywoman Nancy J. Pinkin (D-18)
(732) 548-1406
AswPinkin@njleg.org
  
AssemblymanDavid P. Rible (R-30)
(732) 974-0400
AsmRible@njleg.org
  
Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter (D-35)
(973) 925-7061
AswSumter@njleg.org