Removes restrictions on the sale and possession of BB guns and certain firearm components; removes requirements for private firearm transfers.
If enacted, S2637 will have notable implications for current firearms regulations. It will abolish the existing requirements requiring that private sales of firearms occur through state-licensed dealers, eliminating the necessity for background checks through licensed retailers for private person-to-person sales. The bill aims to ease the administrative burdens on private firearm transactions while consequently increasing the ownership rights pertaining to firearms for New Jersey residents.
Senate Bill 2637 aims to amend existing firearms legislation in New Jersey by removing certain restrictions related to the sale and possession of BB guns and specific firearm components. A significant aspect of this bill is the clarification that BB guns do not fall under the state's stringent firearm licensing and permitting statutes. Additionally, it permits the possession, sale, and transfer of firearms with components that were previously labeled as characteristics of illegal assault firearms, effectively decriminalizing a range of firearm features that include folding stocks and pistol grips.
The legislative discussions surrounding S2637 could face significant opposition, particularly regarding concerns about public safety. Critics argue that decriminalizing the possession of previously restricted components may lead to increased access to more dangerous firearms. Questions around the safety implications of allowing unregulated private transactions without background checks have been a point of contention among various advocacy groups and legislators, who worry that such measures could lead to a rise in firearm-related crime.