Silencers and short-barreled long guns are both prohibited with no federal-registration exception.
New Jersey Gun Laws
New Jersey is a shall-issue state in the wake of NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022), but Public Law 2022, Chapter 131 (signed December 22, 2022) excised the prior 'justifiable need' standard and replaced it with a substantive-review regime: applicants 21 and older must submit fingerprints, four reputable character references unrelated by blood or law, complete an in-person training and qualification curriculum prescribed by the State Police Superintendent, pay a $200 fee, and maintain $300,000 in liability insurance while carrying. New Jersey imposes a 10-round magazine capacity limit, prohibits 'assault firearms' by name and feature, restricts hollow-point ammunition to the home, licensed hunting, fishing and target shooting, club target practice, and direct travel for those purposes, requires a separate Permit to Purchase a Handgun (one handgun per 30 days) plus a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card for long guns, and lists 25 categories of 'sensitive places' where carry is barred even with a permit. New Jersey recognizes no out-of-state pistol permits, has a duty to retreat outside the home, and operates an Extreme Risk Protective Order regime since 2019.
Sourced from official state legislature, AG, and ATF documents. Last verified October 16, 2026.
At a Glance
In a Vehicle
Common Questions
Can I carry a loaded handgun in my glove box or center console in New Jersey?
No. Even with a New Jersey Permit to Carry, you may not transport a handgun in a vehicle unless it is unloaded and contained in a closed and securely fastened case, gunbox, or locked unloaded in the trunk. Without a PCH, you may not transport a handgun in your vehicle at all except under the narrow 2C:39-6 exceptions (to/from a range, hunting, etc.) with the same unloaded-and-cased rules.
Do I need a permit to carry concealed in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey requires a Permit to Carry a Handgun (PCH) for any public carry. As of Chapter 131 of 2022, applicants must be 21+, complete fingerprinting, submit four character references, finish a State-Police-approved training and qualification curriculum, pay a $200 fee, and maintain $300,000 in liability insurance.
Can I open carry a handgun in New Jersey?
No. The Permit to Carry under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4 only authorizes concealed carry in a holster. Open carry is not permitted; brief inadvertent exposure (e.g., while reholstering or due to clothing shift) is a de minimis infraction.
What did Public Law 2022, Chapter 131 actually change?
Signed December 22, 2022, Chapter 131 eliminated 'justifiable need' (replacing it with substantive eligibility review), raised the PCH fee from $50 to $200, required four reputable character references instead of three, mandated NJSP-prescribed training, imposed a $300,000 liability-insurance requirement, and created a 25-category 'sensitive places' carry ban under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.6.
Can I carry on school grounds?
No. N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.6(a)(7)-(9) prohibits firearm carry — including by PCH holders — at schools, colleges, universities, on school buses, at child care facilities, day cares, nursery schools, preschools, zoos, and summer camps. Violation is a third-degree crime.
Does New Jersey have stand-your-ground?
No. New Jersey imposes a duty to retreat under N.J.S.A. 2C:3-4(b)(2)(b) when retreat can be made with complete safety, except inside the actor's own dwelling. NJ has a castle-doctrine exception but is not a stand-your-ground state.
Can my employer ban firearms from their parking lot?
Yes. New Jersey has no statutory 'guns in trunks' protection. Employers may prohibit firearms on their property, including in employee vehicles parked in employer parking lots. Many PCH-holding employees also remain subject to the broader N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.6(a)(24) private-property default, which bars carry on private property without express consent of the owner.
Do I have to tell police I'm armed during a traffic stop?
Yes. New Jersey Permit to Carry holders are required to immediately disclose to a law enforcement officer that they are carrying a handgun and to produce the permit on request. This is one of the strictest 'duty to inform' regimes in the country.
Are silencers, SBRs, or machine guns legal in New Jersey?
No. New Jersey prohibits civilian possession of firearm silencers (N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(c)), short-barreled (sawed-off) shotguns (2C:39-3(b)), and machine guns (2C:39-5(a)) — regardless of federal NFA registration. NJ does not have a state-law exception for NFA-compliance.
Do I have to register my firearms?
New Jersey does not maintain a general firearm registry, but every handgun purchase requires a separate Permit to Purchase a Handgun (one per 30 days) and a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card is required for long-gun purchases — both create a permanent state record. Pre-May 1990 'assault firearms' had to be registered by 1991 to remain lawfully owned.
Can I have hollow-point bullets in New Jersey?
Only in the situations the statute lists. N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(f) makes knowing possession of hollow-nose or dum-dum bullets a fourth-degree crime, except for law enforcement officers and people engaged in the activities listed in 2C:39-6(f). Under 2C:39-3(g)(2)(a) you may keep them at your dwelling, premises, or other land you own or possess, and carry them there from the place of purchase. Through 2C:39-6(f) you may also have them while hunting, target shooting or fishing in the woods, fields or waters of the State with a valid hunting or fishing license; as a member of a chartered rifle or pistol club going to or from target practice; and while traveling directly to or from a place of hunting or fishing, a target range or authorized shooting match, or a firearms exhibition sponsored by a law enforcement agency or a rifle, pistol or collectors club. Firearms carried in these situations must be transported as 2C:39-6(g) requires.
Where are the 'sensitive places' under New Jersey's 2022 carry law?
Twenty-five categories under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.6(a): government administration buildings (including police stations), courthouses, jails, polling places, public gatherings/demonstrations (within 100 ft), schools and universities, day cares and preschools, gun-free parks, youth sports events, libraries and museums, shelters, community residences, bars and restaurants serving alcohol, cannabis retailers, entertainment venues, casinos, energy facilities, airports and transit hubs, health care facilities, mental-health and addiction-treatment facilities, motion-picture sets, and private property without owner consent.
Does anyone honor a New Jersey carry permit?
Not many. New Jersey is one of the strictest states in the country and recognizes NO out-of-state permits. New Jersey itself does not publish an official reciprocity matrix because there is no inbound reciprocity to administer; coverage of NJ permits by other states is limited and varies. Always check the destination state's own list before traveling.
Does New Jersey require background checks on private gun sales?
Yes. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3(a)(2)-(3) (as amended by P.L.2022, c.131), any non-licensed person transferring a handgun must conduct the transaction through a licensed retail dealer who runs a NICS check. Exceptions are narrow (immediate family, between LEOs, between federally licensed C&R collectors, certain temporary transfers).
How old do I have to be to buy a handgun in New Jersey?
Twenty-one. New Jersey will not issue a Permit to Purchase a Handgun to anyone under 21 (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3(c)(4)) and will not issue a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card to anyone under 18. Federal law requires the same minimums for purchases from a federally licensed dealer.
What's the magazine limit in New Jersey?
Ten rounds. P.L. 2018, c.39 reduced the limit from 15 to 10. A 'large capacity ammunition magazine' is any box, drum, tube, or container capable of holding more than 10 rounds and fed continuously into a semi-auto firearm. Knowing possession is a fourth-degree crime.
Does New Jersey have a red flag law?
Yes. The Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018 (P.L.2018, c.35), codified at N.J.S.A. 2C:58-20 et seq. and effective September 1, 2019, allows law enforcement and family/household members to petition for temporary or final orders requiring the respondent to surrender firearms and ammunition.
Suppressors and Short-Barreled Rifles
Since October 9, 2026, ATF does not require federal registration or a tax stamp for suppressors or short-barreled rifles (what changed and what didn't). New Jersey's own law still applies, and it is set out below.
Owning a Suppressor
Banned
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(c) makes knowing possession of a firearm silencer a crime, with a non-merging consecutive sentence when it is possessed alongside an assault firearm or machine gun. There is no federal-registration exception. The ban is under challenge in Padua v. Platkin, where a summary judgment motion was filed and undecided as of October 11, 2026.
Hunting With a Suppressor
Not allowed
There is no lawful hunting use, because possession is a crime. Some write-ups describe a deer-hunting carve-out being litigated; no such exception appears in the statute.
Short-Barreled Rifles
Banned
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(b) bars possession of a 'sawed-off shotgun', and New Jersey's definition sweeps in rifles with a barrel under 16 inches or an overall length under 26 inches, a third-degree crime. A federal Form 1 or Form 4 does not legalize it. Challenged in FPC v. Platkin, undecided.
ATF stopped requiring NFA approval and registration for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and AOWs on October 9, 2026, but says the policy does not affect state or local law and that it cannot say whether an unregistered item counts as lawfully held under federal law for state-law purposes. New Jersey's bans are absolute, so the enforcement-discretion question does not arise.
"ATF cannot opine on whether holding an unregistered firearm or silencer pursuant to ATF's enforcement discretion will qualify for state-law purposes as lawfully held (or registered) under federal law."
Checked against the statutes on October 11, 2026.
Permitless / Constitutional Carry
New Jersey does not have constitutional or permitless carry. Carrying a handgun in public requires a Permit to Carry a Handgun issued under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4. Possession of a handgun without the required permit is a second-degree crime under N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b).
"Any person who holds a valid permit to carry a handgun issued pursuant to this section shall be authorized to carry a handgun in a holster concealed on their person in all parts of this State, except as prohibited."
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b); 2C:58-4 statute
Concealed Carry Permit
Applicants for a Permit to Carry a Handgun (PCH) must be 21 or older, complete fingerprinting, submit four reputable character references unrelated by blood or law who have known the applicant for at least three years, complete a State-Police-approved training curriculum (online + in-person classroom + range qualification), maintain $300,000 in liability insurance, and pay a $200 application fee. The permit is valid for two years and authorizes concealed carry statewide except in 'sensitive places.'
"All permits to carry handguns shall expire two years from the date of issuance... and they may thereafter be renewed every two years in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as in the case of original applications."
N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4 (as amended by P.L.2022, c.131, § 3) statute
The PCH application must be endorsed by not less than four reputable persons unrelated by blood or law to the applicant who have known the applicant for at least three years and who certify the applicant is not likely to engage in conduct that would pose a danger. Each application is accompanied by a $200 fee ($150 retained by the municipality if filed with the chief police officer; $50 forwarded to the State Police).
"The application shall be signed by the applicant under oath, and shall be endorsed by not less than four reputable persons who are not related by blood or by law to the applicant and have known the applicant for at least three years preceding the date of application."
Every private citizen who carries a handgun in public must maintain liability insurance coverage in an amount of at least $300,000 against loss arising from the ownership, maintenance, operation, or use of the firearm. (Note: A Third Circuit panel found this requirement likely violated the Second Amendment on Sept. 10, 2025, but that opinion was vacated on Dec. 11, 2025 when en banc rehearing was granted; the requirement is currently in force pending en banc decision.)
"Every private citizen who carries a handgun in public in this State shall maintain liability insurance coverage insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death, and property damage... at least in an amount or limit of $300,000."
On June 24, 2022 — two days after NYSRPA v. Bruen — Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued Directive 2022-07, instructing all NJ law enforcement and prosecuting agencies to stop applying the 'justifiable need' requirement but to continue enforcing all other statutory eligibility requirements for permits to carry, including the disability list at N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3(c)(1)-(11), the firearms-familiarity requirement at N.J.A.C. 13:54-2.4(b), and the three-reference (now four under c.131) good-moral-character endorsement.
"The decision in N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Assoc. v. Bruen, No. 20-843, prevents us from continuing to require a demonstration of justifiable need in order to carry a firearm, but it does not prevent us from enforcing the other requirements in our law."
N.J.A.C. 13:54-2.4 prescribes the application form, investigation procedure, and firearms-familiarity demonstration that the State Police Superintendent and local police chiefs follow when adjudicating Permits to Carry. Subsection (b) is the regulatory hook for the firearms-familiarity / qualification requirement that AG Directive 2022-07 expressly preserves post-Bruen.
N.J.A.C. 13:54-2.4 (Permit to Carry application and investigation) ag
Open Carry
Open carry of a handgun is not authorized. N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4(a), as amended by P.L.2022, c.131, authorizes only concealed carry in a holster; the statute treats a 'brief, incidental exposure of a handgun while transferring it to or from a holster or due to the shifting of the person's body position or clothing' as a de minimis infraction.
"shall not be construed to authorize a holder to carry a handgun openly, provided that a brief, incidental exposure of a handgun while transferring it to or from a holster or due to the shifting of the person's body position or clothing shall be deemed a de minimis infraction."
N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4(a) (as amended by P.L.2022, c.131, § 3) statute
Vehicle Carry
A person otherwise authorized to carry or transport a firearm — including a Permit to Carry holder — may not do so in a vehicle in New Jersey unless the handgun is unloaded and contained in a closed and securely fastened case, gunbox, or locked unloaded in the trunk of the vehicle. A permit holder also may not leave a handgun in a parked vehicle outside immediate possession or control unless similarly stored and not visible from outside the vehicle. Violation is a fourth-degree crime.
"shall not do so while in a vehicle in New Jersey, unless the handgun is unloaded and contained in a closed and securely fastened case, gunbox, or locked unloaded in the trunk of the vehicle."
Outside the permit-to-carry context, firearms transported under the personal-self-defense or transportation exceptions of 2C:39-6 must be unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, locked unloaded in the trunk, or carried securely and not be readily accessible from the passenger compartment. New Jersey has no general 'glove box' or 'console' loaded-firearm exception.
"shall be carried unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported."
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6(g) statute
The hollow-nose prohibition in 2C:39-3(f)(1) does not reach 'persons engaged in activities pursuant to subsection f. of N.J.S.2C:39-6'. Those activities are: members of a chartered rifle or pistol club going to or from target practice; hunting, target practice, or fishing in the woods, fields, or waters of the State with a valid license; and traveling directly to or from a place of hunting or fishing, a target range or match, or a sponsored firearms exhibition. Firearms carried for these purposes must be unloaded and in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, or locked trunk under 2C:39-6(g). Corrected 2026-10-16: carrying hollow-nose ammunition home from the place of purchase is covered by 2C:39-3(g)(2)(a), not 2C:39-6(f), and neither provision covers trips to a place of repair.
"Nothing in subsections b., c., and d. of N.J.S.2C:39-5 shall be construed to prevent: (1) A member of any rifle or pistol club organized in accordance with the rules prescribed by the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice, in going to or from a place of target practice, carrying firearms necessary for target practice"
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6(f) and (g), as incorporated by the hollow-nose prohibition in 2C:39-3(f)(1) statute
Reciprocity
New Jersey does not recognize handgun carry permits issued by any other state. A non-resident who wishes to carry in New Jersey must apply for a New Jersey Permit to Carry Handgun under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4 (with applications made to the Superintendent of State Police when the applicant does not reside in New Jersey). New Jersey does not publish an official outbound reciprocity matrix; coverage by other shall-issue states is sparse and varies because most jurisdictions' lists do not include NJ permits.
"the superintendent if: ... (3) the applicant does not reside in this State."
N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4 — NJ recognizes no out-of-state carry permit statute
Castle Doctrine
New Jersey codifies a castle-doctrine exception to its general duty to retreat: a person is not required to retreat from his or her dwelling before using deadly force in self-defense, unless the actor was the initial aggressor. The exception applies inside the dwelling only, not on the curtilage or in a vehicle.
"The actor is not obliged to retreat from his dwelling, unless he was the initial aggressor."
N.J.S.A. 2C:3-4(b)(2)(b)(i) statute
Stand Your Ground
New Jersey is NOT a stand-your-ground state. The use of deadly force is not justifiable if the actor knows that he can avoid the necessity of using such force with complete safety by retreating, except when in the actor's own dwelling. The duty to retreat applies in public and other locations where retreat can be made with complete safety.
"The use of deadly force is not justifiable... if the actor knows that he can avoid the necessity of using such force with complete safety by retreating."
N.J.S.A. 2C:3-4(b)(2)(b) statute
Duty to Disclose
New Jersey Permit to Carry Handgun holders must immediately disclose to law enforcement during any official interaction (e.g., traffic stop) that they are carrying a handgun and must produce the permit on request. This duty to disclose is reflected in NJSP carry permit guidance and in AG Directive 2022-07 implementation materials. New Jersey is widely tracked as a 'must inform immediately' state.
"If stopped or detained, a private citizen must disclose to law enforcement that they are in possession of a firearm and must produce a permit to carry."
AG Law Enforcement Directive 2022-07 (PCH disclosure); NJSP Concealed Carry Permit guidance ag
Prohibited Places
Carrying a firearm — even with a valid permit — in any of 25 enumerated 'sensitive places' is a third-degree crime; carrying a destructive device there is a second-degree crime. The list includes government administration buildings, courthouses, correctional facilities, polling places, public gatherings under government permit (within 100 ft), schools and universities, child care, parks designated as gun-free, libraries, bars and restaurants serving alcohol, cannabis retailers, entertainment facilities, casinos, energy plants, airports and transit hubs, health care facilities, addiction/mental health facilities, and private property without owner consent.
"it shall be a crime of the third degree for any person... to knowingly carry a firearm as defined in subsection f. of N.J.S.2C:39-1 and a crime of the second degree to knowingly possess a destructive device... in any of the following places."
On September 10, 2025, a Third Circuit panel (Krause, Porter, Chung, JJ.) reviewed preliminary-injunction rulings on Chapter 131. The panel agreed with New Jersey 'for the most part' and upheld bans on carrying firearms at permitted public events, schools, day cares, public parks/beaches, youth sports events, libraries and museums, bars and entertainment venues, casinos, health care facilities, and similar locations, while finding the liability insurance requirement, the vehicle storage requirement, and the default-prohibition for private property open to the public likely violate the Second Amendment. The full Third Circuit granted en banc rehearing on December 11, 2025, vacating the panel opinion; the en banc argument was held February 11, 2026 and no en banc decision had issued by mid-2026.
"For the most part, we agree with New Jersey and join our sister circuits that have upheld similar sensitive-places laws."
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(f) makes it a fourth-degree crime to knowingly possess any hollow-nose or dum-dum bullet, unless the person is a law enforcement officer or is engaged in an activity covered by N.J.S.2C:39-6(f) (target practice, hunting, and related travel). The same subsection makes possession of armor-piercing ammunition, as defined in 2C:39-1(gg), a fourth-degree crime except for federally licensed curio-and-relic collectors, who may keep up to three examples of each variation. Further exceptions, including keeping hollow-nose ammunition at one's dwelling or land, are in 2C:39-3(g).
"Any person, other than a law enforcement officer or persons engaged in activities pursuant to subsection f. of N.J.S.2C:39-6, who knowingly has in his possession any hollow nose or dum-dum bullet ... is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree."
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(f) (hollow-nose / dum-dum ammunition) statute
Subsection 2C:39-3(g)(2)(a) provides that the hollow-nose prohibition in 2C:39-3(f)(1) does not prevent a person from keeping such ammunition at his dwelling, premises, or other land he owns or possesses, or from carrying it from the place of purchase to that dwelling or land. It also lets licensed dealers hold it at their licensed premises if they keep a record of each non-dealer buyer's name, age, residence, date of sale, and quantity. Corrected 2026-10-16: the statute says dwelling, premises, or land; it does not mention a place of business.
"Nothing in paragraph (1) of subsection f. of this section shall be construed to prevent a person from keeping such ammunition at his dwelling, premises, or other land owned or possessed by him, or from carrying such ammunition from the place of purchase to said dwelling or land"
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(g)(2)(a) (hollow-nose exception — dwelling, land, carry from place of purchase) statute
Background Checks
New Jersey requires universal background checks for handgun transfers. A non-licensed person who transfers or acquires a handgun must conduct the transaction through a licensed retail dealer, who then completes a NICS check on the acquirer (with limited exceptions for immediate family, law enforcement, federally licensed C&R collectors, and certain temporary transfers). FPIC and Permit to Purchase a Handgun applications independently require state-level background checks.
"A person who is not a licensed retail dealer and sells, gives, transfers, assigns, or otherwise disposes of, or receives, purchases or otherwise acquires a handgun pursuant to this section shall conduct the transaction through a licensed retail dealer."
N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3(a)(2)-(3) (as amended by P.L.2022, c.131, § 1) statute
The NJ Administrative Code (Title 13, Chapter 54) implements the firearms permitting statutes — covering FPIC issuance, handgun purchase permits, retail dealer licensing, and carry-permit administration. Among other things, N.J.A.C. 13:54-2.4 governs the application process and required investigations for permits to carry.
"Firearms and Weapons"
N.J.A.C. 13:54 — NJ Administrative Code, Firearms and Weapons ag
Minimum Purchase Age
Federal law requires that handguns be purchased from a federally licensed dealer only by buyers 21 or older, and long guns at 18. New Jersey applies the same minimums by statute: no Permit to Purchase a Handgun may be issued to anyone under 21, and no Firearms Purchaser Identification Card may be issued to anyone under 18 (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3(c)(4)). NJ has no lower minimum.
"A licensee may not sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21. A licensee may not sell a long gun to anyone under the age of 18."
18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) (federal); N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3(c)(4) (NJ) atf
New Jersey statute mirrors federal age minimums and codifies them as ineligibility grounds for the FPIC and Permit to Purchase a Handgun: 'To any person under the age of 18 years for a firearms purchaser identification card and to any person under the age of 21 years for a permit to purchase a handgun.'
"To any person under the age of 18 years for a firearms purchaser identification card and to any person under the age of 21 years for a permit to purchase a handgun."
Firearm Registration
New Jersey does not maintain a general firearm registry, but the permit-to-purchase regime creates de facto registration: a separate Permit to Purchase a Handgun is required for each handgun acquired by a private individual, and only one handgun may be purchased within any 30-day period. Long-gun purchases require a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card. Pre-May 1990 assault firearms required registration with the Superintendent of State Police by 1991; later acquisitions are prohibited.
"Only one handgun shall be purchased or delivered on each permit and no more than one handgun shall be purchased within any 30-day period."
N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3 (handgun purchase permit); 2C:58-12 (assault firearm registration, 1990 cutoff) statute
Red Flag / ERPO
New Jersey enacted the Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018 (P.L.2018, c.35), codified at N.J.S.A. 2C:58-20 through 2C:58-32, effective September 1, 2019. The law allows a law enforcement officer or family or household member to petition for a temporary or final ERPO requiring the respondent to surrender firearms and ammunition for the duration of the order.
"Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018"
N.J.S.A. 2C:58-20 et seq. — Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018 (P.L.2018, c.35) statute
Assault Weapon Ban
New Jersey prohibits civilian possession, sale, and transfer of 'assault firearms.' The statute defines assault firearm by (a) a list of more than 50 specifically named makes/models and their substantial equivalents, (b) any semi-automatic shotgun with a magazine capacity over six rounds, a pistol grip, or a folding stock, and (c) any semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine capacity over 10 rounds. Pre-May 1, 1990 assault firearms could be registered for limited continued possession.
"'Assault firearm' means: (1) [enumerated firearms and copies]; (2) A semi-automatic shotgun with either a magazine capacity exceeding six rounds, a pistol grip, or a folding stock; (3) A semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine capacity exceeding 10 rounds."
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1(w) (definition); 2C:39-5(f) (possession) statute
N.J.S.A. 2C:58-12 set up a one-time registration window for assault firearms. An owner of an assault firearm purchased on or before May 1, 1990 that appeared on the Attorney General's list of firearms used for legitimate target shooting had one year from the effective date of P.L.1990, c.32 to register it with the local police department or State Police, paying a $50 fee, showing a firearms purchaser ID or handgun permit, and proving membership in a rifle or pistol club that existed before the act. Rendering a firearm inoperable or transferring it is handled separately under 2C:58-13. Possession of an assault firearm that is not licensed, registered, or rendered inoperable is a second-degree crime under 2C:39-5(f). Corrected 2026-10-16: the earlier summary called that offense third-degree and said the registration deadline was May 1, 1991.
"The owner of an assault firearm purchased on or before May 1, 1990 which is on the list of assault firearms determined by the Attorney General to be legitimate for target-shooting purposes shall have one year from the effective date of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-12 et al.) to register that firearm."
N.J.S.A. 2C:58-12 (pre-1990 assault firearm registration) statute
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(f) makes knowing possession of an assault firearm a second-degree crime unless the firearm is licensed under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-5, registered under the 1990 window in N.J.S.A. 2C:58-12, or rendered inoperable under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-13. This is the operative criminal offense for the assault-firearm ban whose definitional list lives at 2C:39-1(w).
"Any person who knowingly has in his possession an assault firearm is guilty of a crime of the second degree, except if the assault firearm is licensed pursuant to N.J.S.2C:58-5; registered pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-12); or rendered inoperable pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-13)."
Magazine Capacity
Public Law 2018, Chapter 39 reduced the New Jersey magazine capacity limit from 15 to 10 rounds. A 'large capacity ammunition magazine' is a box, drum, tube, or other container capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition to be fed continuously and directly into a semi-automatic firearm. Knowing possession is a fourth-degree crime. Active-duty law enforcement may possess magazines up to 15 rounds off-duty.
"'Large capacity ammunition magazine' means a box, drum, tube or other container which is capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition to be fed continuously and directly therefrom into a semi-automatic firearm."
In Ass'n of N.J. Rifle & Pistol Clubs v. Attorney General, the Third Circuit affirmed denial of a preliminary injunction against New Jersey's reduced 10-round magazine limit (P.L.2018, c.39), holding that the law did not facially violate the Second Amendment or Fifth Amendment Takings Clause. The decision predates Bruen but remains binding circuit precedent for the magazine limit's validity unless and until a subsequent ruling disturbs it.
"the Act reasonably fits the State's interest in promoting public safety and does not unconstitutionally burden the Second Amendment."
Ass'n of N.J. Rifle & Pistol Clubs, Inc. v. Att'y Gen. N.J., 910 F.3d 106 (3d Cir. 2018) court
NFA Items
Suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and machine guns are regulated under the federal National Firearms Act and require ATF registration.
"The National Firearms Act (NFA) imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms."
New Jersey law prohibits civilian possession of firearm silencers (N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(c) — fourth-degree crime) and machine guns (N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(a) — second-degree crime). Short-barreled shotguns (sawed-off shotguns) are also prohibited under 2C:39-3(b). New Jersey has no statutory exception that recognizes federal NFA compliance as a defense, so private NFA ownership of these items is generally barred in New Jersey regardless of federal registration.
"Any person who knowingly has in his possession any firearm silencer is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree."
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3 (silencers/SBRs); 2C:39-1(i) (machine gun); 2C:39-5(a) (machine gun possession) statute
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(b) makes knowing possession of any sawed-off shotgun a third-degree crime. The exceptions in 2C:39-3(g) cover only the armed forces, the National Guard, and law enforcement acting under authorization; federal NFA registration is not among them, so a short-barreled shotgun is unlawful for a private person to possess in New Jersey even if it is federally registered.
"b. Sawed-off shotguns. Any person who knowingly has in his possession any sawed-off shotgun is guilty of a crime of the third degree."
State Preemption
New Jersey state law generally preempts the field of firearm regulation as a matter of state-law doctrine and N.J.S.A. 2C:1-5(d), which prohibits local governments from enacting penal ordinances inconsistent with the state penal code. Local governments may still regulate firearms ranges, discharge of firearms within boundaries, and other limited collateral matters not occupied by state law.
"No local unit shall enact any ordinance, resolution, regulation or rule on the subject of any offense defined by this code."
Recent Changes
Public Law 2022, Chapter 131 was New Jersey's principal post-Bruen response. It eliminated the 'justifiable need' carry standard, increased the carry permit fee from $50 to $200, required four (rather than three) character references, added a comprehensive in-person training and qualification requirement, mandated $300,000 in liability insurance for any private carry, and enacted N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.6 prohibiting carry in 25 enumerated 'sensitive places.' Signed by Governor Murphy on December 22, 2022; most provisions effective immediately.
"AN ACT concerning permits to carry handguns, supplementing and amending various parts of the statutory law."
P.L. 2018, c.35 enacted the Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018 (codified at N.J.S.A. 2C:58-20 et seq.), allowing law enforcement officers or family/household members to petition for temporary and final orders requiring a respondent to surrender firearms based on risk. Effective September 1, 2019.
"Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018"
P.L. 2018, c.35 — Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018 statute
P.L. 2018, c.39 reduced the New Jersey large-capacity ammunition magazine threshold from 15 rounds to 10 rounds (amending N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1(y) and 2C:39-3(j)) and reclassified semi-automatic rifles with fixed magazines holding more than 10 rounds as 'assault firearms.' Approved June 13, 2018; effective immediately with a 180-day grace period for owners to comply.
"This act shall take effect immediately. Approved June 13, 2018."
P.L. 2018, c.39 — magazine limit reduced to 10 rounds statute
On July 5, 2022, Governor Murphy signed a multi-bill gun-safety package. P.L.2022, c.52 (S1204) requires new New Jersey residents to apply for a FPIC and register handguns within 60 days of taking residency. P.L.2022, c.55 (A1302) creates electronic reporting of handgun ammunition sales and updates retail-dealer recordkeeping. P.L.2022, c.56 (A1765) authorizes the Attorney General to bring civil public-nuisance actions against firearm industry members whose products are knowingly diverted to the illegal market.
"any person who becomes a New Jersey resident following the effective date of P.L.2022, c.52 and who transports a firearm... shall apply for a firearm purchaser identification card within 60 days."
P.L. 2022, c.52, c.55, c.56 — Murphy gun-safety package (signed July 5, 2022) statute
Recent Law Changes
Third Circuit panel decision in Koons/Siegel v. Platkin (later vacated for en banc)
effective September 10, 2025A Third Circuit panel (Krause, Porter, Chung, JJ.) upheld most of Chapter 131's 'sensitive places' restrictions while finding the $300,000 liability-insurance mandate, the vehicle storage requirement, and the default-prohibition for private property open to the public likely violated the Second Amendment. The full Third Circuit granted rehearing en banc on December 11, 2025 and VACATED the panel opinion; the en banc was argued February 11, 2026. As of June 2026, no en banc decision had issued, so Chapter 131 is in force in its entirety pending the en banc ruling.
Post-Bruen carry overhaul (P.L. 2022, c.131)
effective December 22, 2022Signed December 22, 2022 (most provisions effective immediately), Chapter 131 excised 'justifiable need' from N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4, raised the carry-permit fee from $50 to $200, increased character references from three to four, prescribed a State-Police-administered training and qualification curriculum, required $300,000 in liability insurance for any private public carry, and created 25 categories of 'sensitive places' under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.6 where carry is prohibited even with a permit.
Murphy gun-safety package: new-resident registration, ammo recordkeeping, public nuisance (P.L. 2022, cc. 52, 55, 56)
effective July 5, 2022On July 5, 2022, Governor Murphy signed a multi-bill package: c.52 (S1204) requires new NJ residents to register handguns and apply for an FPIC within 60 days; c.55 (A1302) creates electronic reporting of handgun ammunition sales and updates retail-dealer recordkeeping; c.56 (A1765) authorizes the Attorney General to bring public-nuisance civil actions against firearm-industry members whose products are knowingly diverted to the illegal market.
AG Directive 2022-07 implements post-Bruen carry-permit guidance
effective June 24, 2022Two days after NYSRPA v. Bruen, Acting AG Matthew Platkin directed all law enforcement and prosecuting agencies to stop applying the 'justifiable need' requirement but continue enforcing every other carry-permit eligibility requirement (disability list, training, three reputable-person endorsement, good moral character). The Directive remained in force until c.131 superseded its statutory framework on December 22, 2022.
Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018 takes effect (P.L. 2018, c.35)
effective September 1, 2019Codified at N.J.S.A. 2C:58-20 through 2C:58-32, the ERPO Act allows law enforcement officers and family or household members to petition for temporary and final orders requiring the respondent to surrender firearms and ammunition based on a finding of significant risk of harm to self or others.
Magazine limit reduced to 10 rounds (P.L. 2018, c.39)
effective June 13, 2018New Jersey reduced the large-capacity ammunition magazine threshold from 15 rounds to 10 (amending N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1(y) and 2C:39-3(j)) and reclassified semi-auto rifles with fixed magazines over 10 rounds as 'assault firearms.' Approved June 13, 2018; effective immediately with a 180-day grace period.
Where Carry Is Prohibited
School
Carrying a firearm at a school, college, university, other educational institution, or on any school bus is a third-degree crime under the 2022 sensitive-places statute, in addition to pre-existing N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5 school zone protections. Day cares, nursery schools, preschools, zoos, and summer camps are also covered.
Courthouse
Carrying a firearm in a courthouse, courtroom, or any other premises used to conduct judicial or court administrative proceedings is a third-degree crime, with no intent-to-go-armed requirement for firearms.
Polling Place
Carrying a firearm at a location being used as a polling place during the conduct of an election, or at any place used for the storage or tabulation of ballots, is a third-degree crime.
Bar Or Restaurant Serving Alcohol
Carrying a firearm in a bar or restaurant where alcohol is served, or any other site or facility where alcohol is sold for on-premises consumption, is a third-degree crime regardless of whether the carrier consumes alcohol.
Government Building
Carrying a firearm in a place owned, leased, or under the control of state, county, or municipal government used for the purpose of government administration — including but not limited to police stations — is a third-degree crime.
Park Beach Or Playground
Carrying a firearm at a park, beach, recreation facility or area, or playground owned or controlled by a state, county, or local government unit that has been designated as a gun-free zone is a third-degree crime. Public-gathering events under government permit are also covered (within 100 feet).
Health Care Facility
Carrying a firearm at a health care facility — including hospitals, medical offices, ambulatory care facilities, assisted living centers, nursing homes, and addiction or mental-health treatment facilities — is a third-degree crime.
Casino Or Entertainment Venue
Carrying a firearm at a casino (and appurtenant hotels, restaurants, retail, and entertainment venues within the casino property) or at any privately or publicly owned entertainment facility (theater, stadium, arena, racetrack, concert venue, etc.) is a third-degree crime.
Airport Or Public Transit
Carrying a firearm at an airport or public transportation hub is a third-degree crime.
Private Property Without Consent
Carrying a firearm on private property (residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, institutional, or undeveloped) is a third-degree crime unless the owner has provided express consent or has posted a sign permitting concealed carry by valid PCH holders. (A September 2025 Third Circuit panel decision had enjoined this default for property open to the public, but the panel opinion was vacated by en banc grant in December 2025 and the rule is currently in force.)
Sources & Methodology
Every fact on this page is paired with a citation to the underlying statute, attorney general guidance, court opinion, or ATF document. We do not rely on summaries from advocacy organizations as primary sources. Last verified October 16, 2026 against the official sources.
Legal Disclaimer — Please Read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. We are not attorneys and nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. Gun laws are complex, change frequently, and are interpreted differently across jurisdictions and individual fact patterns.
Before relying on any information on this page — to carry a firearm, purchase a firearm, travel across state lines, or respond to a self-defense situation — you should:
- Verify the current text of any cited statute directly with the official state legislature, attorney general, or state police website.
- Check for amendments, pending litigation, or recent court rulings that may have changed the law since this page was last verified.
- Consult a licensed attorney in New Jersey for advice on your specific situation.
The controlling document is the statute or court ruling, not this page. We make no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information, and we disclaim all liability for any reliance placed upon it.