Careful Where You Bring That Thing: Transporting Your Gun Into and Out of New Jersey

New Jersey has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Carrying an unlicensed firearm in New Jersey can result in mandatory prison time of three years and up to 10 years along with some really harsh fines depending upon the weapon found on the defendant. Regardless of intent, the state has adopted one of the most heavily enforced zero-tolerance policies when it comes to these infractions. One of the mistakes that law-abiding gun owners make is carrying their guns across state lines without knowing, or fully understanding, New Jersey’s tough gun laws. Each state has different laws with respect to the transportation of firearms and you can avoid undue legal hassle by making sure all you know New Jersey’s laws.

All guns must be locked up when they’re being transported through the state, whether this is in a closed case, a locked box or the trunk of one’s car. Guns must be unloaded when being transported and the ammunition must be stored separately from the firearm (a separate compartment completely from the gun). State law requires advance notice by the gun owners to the state law enforcement authorities of transporting such weapons in New Jersey but in some cases, federal law supersedes state law on this issue if all of the appropriate conditions are met. Convicted felons, undocumented immigrants and mentally disabled persons are not permitted to move firearms through the state at all.

Part of being a responsible gun owner is doing your homework on these issues. However the gun laws in New Jersey are so complex that they can be hard to understand even if you did do your homework. So if you find yourself facing a serious weapons charge in New Jersey, you will need qualified legal representation. An experienced criminal defense attorney who understands the strict and complex laws governing New Jersey gun ownership can help effectively represent your interests in court.

Mistakes happen every day and just because you don’t know the law, it doesn’t mean you’re a malicious criminal. Don’t let ignorance or a mistake impact you for the rest of your life. You will need a qualified attorney in order to avoid devastating consequences.

The attorneys at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC have years of experience successfully representing clients on serious weapons charges. Contact us today for a free consultation so we can help you understand your options and mount the best possible defense for your case.