SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1774

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 8, 2008

      The Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1774.

      This bill regulates the sale and purchase of handguns by prohibiting a person from purchasing more than one handgun within a 30-day period.

      Under the provisions of the bill, the holder of a handgun purchaser permit may buy only one gun within a 30-day period.  The bill also prohibits licensed retail firearms dealers from knowingly delivering more than one handgun to any particular person within a 30-day period. 

      A buyer or seller who violates the provisions of the amended bill would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.  Fourth degree crimes are punishable by imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

      This limitation does not apply to federal, State, or local law enforcement agencies and officers purchasing handguns for use by officers in the actual performance of their law enforcement duties.  It is the committee’s understanding that local law enforcement agencies and officers includes county agencies and officers. 

      Also exempt from the one-gun-a-month limitation are collectors of firearms as curios or relics as defined in Title 18, United States Code, section 921 (a) (13) who have in their possession a valid Collector of Curios and Relics License issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The limitation also does not apply to transfers of handguns between licensed retail dealers.

      As reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 339 (1R).