TRENTON, N.J. – Starting Wednesday, Feb. 1, two new laws take effect that will allow New Jersey government to monitor the moves and purchases of law-abiding gun owners. It’s a new year, but the same old gun-grabbing playbook, say the Assembly Republicans in their latest “<Three” video released Wednesday.
Reina Smrdelj, a legislative analyst at the Assembly Republican Office, prepares lawful gun owners for a new round of restrictions passed by Democrats and Gov. Phil Murphy. Next week, legal gun owners moving into the state will be required to apply for a firearms purchaser identification card and register their handgun, or face fines. When purchasing ammunition, consumers will need to show an additional form of photo ID on top of their firearms purchaser card or permit. The law also mandates a record of gun owners who buy bullets and their purchase. Republican efforts to amend the legislation to increase penalties for anyone possessing a firearm for nefarious purposes, were shot down by Democrats. Republicans argue the laws are merely a means for the government to catalog lawful gun owners and do nothing to address crime or gun violence.
