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Federal law establishes a baseline national standard regarding individuals' eligibility to acquire and possess firearms. Under federal law, people are mostly prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms if they have been convicted of a felony or some domestic violence misdemeanors, or if they are subject to certain court orders related to domestic violence or a serious mental condition. Notwithstanding, federal police force just provides a floor, and has notable gaps that allow individuals who have demonstrated significant risk factors for violence or cocky-harm to legally learn and possess guns.

New Jersey law prohibits the following individuals from possessing firearms and, since 2019, ammunition:

  • Whatsoever person convicted of a "crime," or attempt or conspiracy to commit a crime, of aggravated assault, arson, burglary, escape, extortion, homicide, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, sexual set on, bias intimidation, carjacking, gang criminality, racketeering, terroristic threats, unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of a handgun, unlawful possession of an assault firearm, leading a firearms trafficking network, endangering the welfare of a child, stalking, domestic violence, or certain weapons-related offenses;one
  • Any person who has ever been committed for a mental disorder to whatever infirmary, mental institution or sanitarium unless he or she possesses a certificate of a medical dr. or psychiatrist licensed to practice in New Bailiwick of jersey or other satisfactory proof that he is no longer suffering from a mental disorder which interferes with or handicaps him in the treatment of a firearm;2
  • Any person convicted of the unlawful use, possession or auction of a controlled dangerous substance unless the offense was classified as a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense;
  • Any person convicted of a hell-raising persons criminal offence of domestic violence;3
  • Whatever person who is subject field to a domestic violence restraining lodge, or an ex parte order that specifically prohibits the possession of firearms;4
  • Any person bedevilled in another U.Southward. or foreign jurisdiction of a crime comparable to a law-breaking listed above;5 or
  • Whatsoever person field of study to an gild of protection concerning a judicial officer.half dozen

In New Bailiwick of jersey, all prospective firearm purchasers must obtain either a permit to purchase a handgun (i handgun purchase per permit),7 or a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card (FPIC) (one card allows unlimited rifle and shotgun purchases),8 from local constabulary enforcement or the New Jersey State Law (NJSP) prior to buying a firearm.9 New Jersey has adopted many classes of prohibited persons that cannot obtain permits or FPICs, incorporating some of the federal prohibitions every bit state offenses.

No allow to buy a handgun or FPIC shall be issued to whatever person who:10

  • Has been "bedevilled of any crime" (nether New Bailiwick of jersey law, a criminal offense is an criminal offense "for which a sentence of imprisonment in excess of 6 months is authorized);"xi
  • Has been convicted of a "hell-raising persons law-breaking" involving an deed of domestic violence,12 whether or not the person was armed with or possessing a weapon at the fourth dimension of the offense;
  • Is "drug dependent;"13
  • Is a "habitual drunkard;"
  • Is confined for a mental disorder to a hospital, mental establishment or sanitarium;
  • Has ever been confined for a mental disorder, is an alcoholic, or suffers from a physical defect or disease which would make it unsafe for him or her to handle firearms, unless the person tin provide "satisfactory proof" that he or she is no longer suffering from that item disability in a manner that would interfere with his or her treatment of firearms;14
  • Refuses to waive statutory or other rights of confidentiality relating to institutional confinement;15
  • Knowingly falsifies any data on the application form for a handgun purchase allow or FPIC;
  • Is under 18 years of age for a FPIC;
  • Is under 21 years of historic period for a permit to buy a handgun;
  • Is subject field to a restraining order prohibiting the person from possessing a firearm;xvi
  • Has had his or her firearm seized by law enforcement for a domestic violence offense and whose firearm has non been returned;
  • Every bit a juvenile was adjudicated delinquent for an offense which, if committed by an adult, would plant a crime and the offense involved the unlawful use or possession of a weapon, explosive or destructive device or is listed in New Jersey Statutes Annotated § 2C:43-7.2d;
  • Is named on the consolidated Terrorist Watchlist maintained past the Terrorist Screening Middle administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
  • Is subject to a court order prohibiting the custody, control, ownership, buy, possession, or receipt of a firearm or ammunition in connectedness with an order of protection apropos a judicial officer.

Finally, no allow to buy or FPIC shall be issued where the issuance would non be in the interest of the public health, safety or welfare.17 In addition, an bidder must be of "good graphic symbol and practiced repute in the community" in which he or she lives.18

For more detail on the allow to buy a handgun and FPIC requirements, run into the New Jersey Licensing of Gun Owners or Purchasers section.

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  1. N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:39-7. An offense nether New Jersey law only constitutes a "criminal offence" if a sentence of imprisonment in excess of 6 months is authorized. N.J. Stat. § 2C:1-iv.[↩]
  2. Due north.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:39-seven(a).[↩]
  3. Id.[↩]
  4. Due north.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:25-29(b); 2C:58-3c(6).[↩]
  5. N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:39-7.[↩]
  6. Northward.J. A. 5599 (2020).[↩]
  7. N.J. Admin. Lawmaking § thirteen:54-ane.9(a).[↩]
  8. N.J. Admin. Code § 13:54-1.9(b).[↩]
  9. Northward.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58-3a, 3b.[↩]
  10. Northward.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58-3c, N.J. Admin. Code § 13:54-ane.v.[↩]
  11. See North.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:1-4.[↩]
  12. Come across the Domestic Violence & Firearms in New Jersey section for farther information.[↩]
  13. Run into N.J. Stat. Ann. § 24:21-two for the definition of "drug dependent."[↩]
  14. See Northward.J. Admin. Code § 13:54-1.6.[↩]
  15. N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58-3e.[↩]
  16. See Northward.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:25-29b.[↩]
  17. N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58-3c(five).[↩]
  18. N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58-3c. A FPIC is valid so long as the holder is permitted to possess a firearm. See North.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58-3f. A permit to purchase a handgun is valid for 90 days, and may be renewed for good cause for an boosted ninety day period. Id. [↩]