While it’s often said that New Jersey has “some of the strictest gun laws in the nation,” there’s still a loophole relating to the sale or transfer of guns between family members. Under current law, family members can sell or transfer ownership of firearms to one another without going through a licensed firearm dealer–a lack of oversight that Assemblywoman Carol Murphy is looking to change with A4883. Under the bill, a firearm transfer between immediate family members must be conducted through a licensed retail firearms dealer. The bill defines “immediate family” as a spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union couple, parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, child, stepchild, and grandchild, as related by blood or by law. Failure to adhere to the provisions in the bill would be a fourth degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
