New Jersey Has Tough Gun Possession Laws
A perceived gun violence epidemic has resulted in calls for tougher gun control legislation – even in New Jersey, which already has strict gun crime laws on the books.
A recent mass shooting in Oregon has highlighted the problem of gun violence in areas throughout the United States. The tragic shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon led to a statement by President Obama on the need for stronger gun control laws. During his brief speech, President Obama noted that similar acts of gun violence have occurred in cities across the country.
One of the problems faced by federal lawmakers is that gun laws are different in each state, leading to different expectations about what kind of legislation is needed to ensure that people remain safe while also protecting the rights of citizens to bear arms.
InsideGov, a government research website that monitors activities at both the local and national levels, recently examined data from the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Brady Campaign and determined which states have the strictest gun laws.
The state that apparently has the most stringent gun possession laws in the U.S. is California, which currently requires that any firearm sales be processed through a licensed dealer. California lawmakers also require a person buying a gun within state borders to pass a written test and obtain a safety certificate.
Researchers also found that New Jersey has some of the toughest gun violence laws in the entire country. Interestingly, five of the six states found to have the strictest gun laws are located in the northeastern part of the country. The tough-on-gun-violence states include New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maryland.
The gun laws in NJ are particularly stringent because of the New Jersey Graves Act, which requires judges to impose mandatory prison sentences in certain gun possession cases. This means that a person caught illegally possessing a handgun, rifle, shotgun or other type of gun in New Jersey is potentially looking at a severe punishment that includes time behind bars.
For additional information about gun violence statistics, view the AOL.com article, “These Are the States with the Most Gun Violence.”
If you or a loved one has been charged with illegal possession of a handgun, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose or any other weapons offense in New Jersey, you need to talk to a qualified criminal defense lawyer. The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC can help you fight your gun charges and avoid the most severe penalties. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation about your case.