Trenton, NJ –-(Ammoland.com)- 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 if 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 A1013 on 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)
AsmMainor@njleg.org
Phone: 201-536-7851
Fax: 201-536-7854 -
Gilbert L. Wilson (Vice Chair) (D5)
AsmWilson@njleg.org
Phone: 856-547-4800
Fax: 856-547-5496 -
Nelson T. Albano (D1)
AsmAlbano@njleg.org
Phone: 609-465-0700
Fax: 609-465-4578 -
Daniel R. Benson (D14)
AsmBenson@njleg.org
Phone: 609-631-0198
Fax: 609-631-0324 -
Sean Connors (D33)
AsmConnors@njleg.org -
Joseph Cryan (D20)
AsmCryan@njleg.org
Phone: 908-624-0880
Fax: 908-624-0587 -
Sean T. Kean (R30)
AsmKean@njleg.org
Phone: 732-974-0400
Fax: 732-974-2564 -
Gregory P. McGuckin (R10)
AsmMcGuckin@njleg.org
Phone: 732-974-0400
Fax: 732-840-9757 -
Erik Peterson (R23)
AsmPeterson@njleg.org
Phone: 908-238-0251
Fax: 908-238-0256 -
David P. Rible (R30)
AsmRible@njleg.org
Phone: 732-974-1719
Fax: 732-974-3615 -
Bonnie Watson Coleman (D15)
AswWatsonColeman@njleg.org
Phone: 609-292-0500
Fax: 609-633-2179
About Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs:
The Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, Inc. is the official NRA State Association in New Jersey. Our mission is to implement all of the programs and activities at the state level that the NRA does at the national level. This mission includes the following: To support and defend the constitutional rights of the people to keep and bear arms. To take immediate action against any legislation at the local, state, and federal level that would infringe upon these rights. Visit: www.anjrpc.org
