ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2757

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 28, 2018

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2757.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 2757 requires all sales or other transfers of a handgun, rifle, or shotgun to be conducted through a retail dealer licensed under State law or a Federal Firearms Licensee.  Exceptions under the amended bill include transactions between members of an immediate family, between law enforcement officers, between licensed collectors of firearms or ammunition as curios or relics, and temporary transfers to participate in certain training courses. The amended bill defines “immediate family” to mean: a spouse, domestic partner as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.246 (C.26:8A-3), partner in a civil union couple as defined in section 2 of P.L.2006, c.103 (C.37:1-29), parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, child, stepchild, and grandchild, as related by blood or by law.

      Prior to the transaction, the retail dealer would be required to complete a National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) on the recipient of the handgun, rifle, or shotgun.  In addition, the retail dealer would be required to submit to the Superintendent of State Police information identifying and confirming the background check and maintain a record of transactions, which would be required to be maintained at the address displayed on the retail dealer’s license for inspection by a law enforcement officer during reasonable hours.  The retail dealer may charge a fee for a transaction conducted pursuant to this subsection. 

      Any record produced pursuant to this amended bill shall not be considered a public record pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) or P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.). 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

      The committee made a technical correction to the bill.