ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1292

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 13, 2021

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1292.

     This bill regulates the sale of handgun ammunition.  Under current law, handgun ammunition is regulated to the extent that a purchaser is to establish his or her eligibility by exhibiting a firearms purchaser identification card, a permit to purchase a handgun, or a permit to carry a handgun, and that he or she is 21 years of age or older.  This bill requires an ammunition purchaser to also exhibit a driver’s license, nondriver identification card, or other government-issued form of photo identification at the time of purchase. 

     The bill requires a manufacturer or dealer of handgun ammunition to keep a detailed, electronic record of handgun ammunition sales.  The electronic record maintained by the manufacturer or wholesale dealer is required to contain the date of the transaction; the type, caliber, or gauge of the ammunition; the quantity of ammunition sold; the name and address of the purchaser; and any other information deemed necessary by the Superintendent of State Police.  The electronic record maintained by the retail dealer is required to contain the name of the manufacturer, the date of the transaction, the type, caliber, or gauge of the ammunition; the quantity of the ammunition sold; the name, address, and date of birth of the purchaser; the identification used to establish the identity of the purchaser; and any other information deemed necessary by the superintendent.  A manufacturer or dealer that is unable to maintain record in an electronic form is to be given 12 months from the effective date of this bill to establish a system for maintaining electronic records of the transfer of handgun ammunition.  The electronic records are required to be made available for inspection at all reasonable hours by any law enforcement officer. 

     In addition, the bill requires electronic reporting of handgun, firearm, and handgun ammunition sales.  Under the bill, every retail dealer is required to electronically report firearm, handgun, and handgun ammunition sales and transfers to the superintendent.  The superintendent would be required to develop a program for retail dealers to electronically report this information.  Regarding handgun ammunition, the reported information is to include the date of the transaction; the name of the manufacturer, the caliber or gauge, and the quantity of ammunition sold or transferred; the name, address, and date of birth of the purchaser; the identification used to establish the identity of the purchaser; and any other information that the superintendent requires.  A retail dealer of handgun ammunition may charge a fee not to exceed $5 for a transaction that is required to be electronically reported.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.