Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CHRISTIAN E. BARRANCO
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Assemblyman PARKER SPACE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Assemblyman HAROLD "HAL" J. WIRTHS
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits State from transmitting firearm make and model information to federal government in certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning firearm transactions and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Division of State Police shall not transmit firearm make or model information related to purchase to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or any other entity of the federal government when conducting a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System on a prospective purchaser of a handgun, antique canon, rifle, or shotgun, as required pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection a. and paragraph (3) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:58-3.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits the State from transmitting firearm make and model information related to purchases of firearms to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or any other federal government entity.
Current law requires sales of handguns, antique cannons, rifles, and shotguns to be conducted by a licensed retail dealer of firearms, including private sales that are not between immediate family members, law enforcement officers, or certain collectors. Prior to conducing a transaction, a retail dealer is required to complete a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) administered by the FBI. The New Jersey State Police NICS Operation Center acts as the point of contact between retail dealers and the NICS system.
This bill prohibits the NICS Operation Center from transmitting make and model information related to the purchase of firearm to the FBI or any other entity of the federal government. It is the sponsor’s intent that the bill will limit the federal government’s ability to make a national firearm registry.