Virginia Senator to Bring Back Expanded Background Check Bill

“It’s coming back,” said Virginia Senator Joe Manchin Tuesday about his bipartisan bill to expand background checks on gun sales, a bill which failed to pass on its first run through the Senate last month. [more]

HOUSTON - Members of the National Rifle Association were assured that they would never have to surrender their firearms. Along with this statement they were told that the fight against government gun control is far [more]

Senate Rejects Expanded Gun Background Checks

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans backed by a small band of rural-state Democrats scuttled the most far-reaching gun control legislation in two decades Wednesday, rejecting tighter background checks for buyers and a ban on assault weapons [more]

Day of Reckoning for Expanded Background Checks

D-Day: Today, consideration of the Manchin-Toomey background check proposal and a myriad other gun amendments, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity clips, will be the main event on Capitol Hill. The outcome of [more]

Deal Reached on Gun Background Check Bill

WASHINGTON - Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. announced that they have reached a compromise bill on Wednesday that expands background checks on gun purchases, and possibly paving the way for votes [more]

Both Gun Control Parties Make Public Appeal

WASHINGTON — Two of the loudest voices in the gun debate say it’s up to voters now to make their position known to Congress. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and National Rifle Associate Executive Vice President [more]

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New Jersey Background Check and Gun Laws

In New Jersey, firearm owners are required to get a lifetime Firearm Purchaser card for the purchase of rifles, shotguns or handguns as well as ammunition. To purchase a handgun, a separate permit is needed from the local police department for each handgun to be purchased and expires after 90 days. These, like the initial Firearms Identification card, require in-depth application questioning, multiple references and background checks via the State Bureau of Identification and New Jersey State Police. NJ law states that Firearms Identification approval and/or handgun purchase permit(s) must be issued within 30 days.

Capacities of semiautomatic handguns and rifles (total in magazine excluding chamber) are limited to 15 rounds or less. N.J. Rev. Stat § 2C:39-1y. New Jersey allows the purchase, possession and use of hollowpoint ammunition except in concert with any sort of criminal activity. New Jersey has its own ban on various semi-automatic firearms as well. Police are bound by the Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) in NJ and cannot own those firearms unless they are signed off by the Chief as used in an official capacity. They are exempt from the magazine limits when used in a duty/off duty firearm and approved by the department.

It is the express policy of New Jersey legislative and law enforcement authorities that the carrying of a handgun on one's person be strictly limited only to those earning a living through the carrying of a handgun. Theoretically, there exists a route for a civilian to legally carry a handgun, but in reality, is practically nonexistent.

Starting January 1, 2010, New Jersey limited handgun purchases to one per 30 day period.

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