I have a question for NJ people and people familiar with NJ laws. I have a friend who lives in NJ who has a NJ firearms ID and owns a firearm that has been declared illegal by the passage of a recent state law: New Jersey Senate Bill 2846. https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/S2846/2022 . In reading the law, the transporting, selling, or shipping or disposing of a firearm that does not have a serial number is a crime of the second degree. I know that this is aimed at homemade so-called ghost guns; but it has the effect of criminalizing any firearm that does not have a serial number. This includes older firearms that were made at a time before serial numbers were required as well as air guns and muzzle loaders--both of which are considered firearms in NJ. A crime of the second degree in NJ is one which has a prison sentence of 5-10 years, and fines of up to $150,000.
The law as it is written it is insane because it severely criminalizes transporting any firearm that does not have a serial number. In NJ this does not just apply to someone transporting a centerfire firearm that was manufactured at a time before serial numbers were required, but to even air guns and muzzle loaders--since neither of those guns typically have serial numbers and are considered firearms under NJ law.
So if you are someone who is taking a muzzleloader to the range, or if you are historical reenactor who has a muzzleloader as part of your kit you could wind up doing 5 to 10 years in prison if you're transporting it. NJ has a horrible history of prosecuting legal gun owners.
My friend bought a used double barreled shotgun that he bought a while ago that i sold s so old that it does not have a serial number. He is very concerned about the issue because an attorney advised him that the law made possession of the gun illegal.
My friend is a member of US Law Shield and called them up to inquire about this. They had a NJ attorney call him back. According to the attorney, the law criminalizes the mere possession of any firearm that does not have a serial number. My friend was on the phone discussing this with the attorney for 20 minutes. The attorney stated that the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs had pointed out to the legislators that the bill as it was written would not just apply to ghost guns or home made guns, but would apply to all guns manufactured before a serial number was required, and thus criminalize a lot of otherwise law-abiding New Jersey gunowners. He claims that the legislators responded that they did not care.
In reading the wording of the legislation, it doesn't sound to me like the gun is illegal to possess in his home, although the other restrictions are quite egregious.
The exact wording is item N of the following link: https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/S2846/2022
"Transporting a manufactured firearm without a serial number. In addition to any other criminal penalties provided under law, a person who transports, ships, sells, or disposes of a firearm manufactured or otherwise assembled using a firearm frame or firearm receiver as defined in subsection k. of this section which is not imprinted with a serial number registered with a federally licensed manufacturer, including but not limited to a firearm manufactured or otherwise assembled from parts purchased or otherwise obtained in violation of subsection k. of this section, is guilty of a crime of the [third] second degree."
Also, the law is in effect immediately and provides no provisions for those who have guns that do not have serial numbers to sell them out of state or dispose of them.
I would be interested in hearing what forum members think.