New Jersey S 1707: Allows county sheriffs to issue firearms identification cards and permits to purchase handguns; authorizes county sheriffs to accept applications for permits to carry handguns.

Bill Text

S1707 

SENATE, No. 1707 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator PARKER SPACE

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

SYNOPSIS

���� Allows county sheriffs to issue firearms 
identification cards and permits to purchase handguns; authorizes county 
sheriffs to accept applications for permits to carry handguns.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning firearms identification cards and permits to 
purchase and carry handguns and amending N.J.S.2C:58-3 and N.J.S.2C:58-4.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

1. 
N.J.S.2C:58-3 
is amended to read as follows:

���� 2C:58-3.� a.� Permit to 
purchase a handgun.� No person shall sell, give, transfer, assign or otherwise 
dispose of, nor receive, purchase, or otherwise acquire a handgun unless the 
purchaser, assignee, donee, receiver or holder is licensed as a dealer under 
this chapter or has first secured a permit to purchase a handgun as provided by 
this section.

���� b.��� Firearms purchaser 
identification card.� No person shall sell, give, transfer, assign or otherwise 
dispose of nor receive, purchase or otherwise acquire an antique cannon or a 
rifle or shotgun, other than an antique rifle or shotgun, unless the purchaser, 
assignee, donee, receiver or holder is licensed as a dealer under this chapter 
or possesses a valid firearms purchaser identification card, and first exhibits 
the card to the seller, donor, transferor or assignor, and unless the 
purchaser, assignee, donee, receiver or holder signs a written certification, 
on a form prescribed by the superintendent, which shall indicate that he 
presently complies with the requirements of subsection c. of this section and 
shall contain his name, address and firearms purchaser identification card 
number or dealer's registration number.� The certification shall be retained by 
the seller, as provided in paragraph (4) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:58-2, or, 
in the case of a person who is not a dealer, it may be filed with the chief of 
police of the municipality in which he resides or with the superintendent.

���� c.��� Who may obtain.� No 
person of good character and good repute in the community in which he lives, 
and who is not subject to any of the disabilities set forth in this section or 
other sections of this chapter, shall be denied a permit to purchase a handgun 
or a firearms purchaser identification card, except as hereinafter set forth.� 
No handgun purchase permit or firearms purchaser identification card shall be 
issued:

���� (1)� To any person who has 
been convicted of any crime, or a disorderly persons offense involving an act 
of domestic violence as defined in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19), 
whether or not armed with or possessing a weapon at the time of the offense;

���� (2)� To any drug dependent 
person as defined in section 2 of P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-2), to any person 
who is confined for a mental disorder to a hospital, mental institution or 
sanitarium, or to any person who is presently an habitual drunkard;

���� (3)� To any person who suffers 
from a physical defect or disease which would make it unsafe for him to handle 
firearms, to any person who has ever been confined for a mental disorder, or to 
any alcoholic unless any of the foregoing persons produces a certificate of a 
medical doctor or psychiatrist licensed in New Jersey, or other satisfactory 
proof, that he is no longer suffering from that particular disability in a 
manner that would interfere with or handicap him in the handling of firearms; 
to any person who knowingly falsifies any information on the application form 
for a handgun purchase permit or firearms purchaser identification card;

���� (4)� To any person under the 
age of 18 years for a firearms purchaser identification card and to any person 
under the age of 21 years for a permit to purchase a handgun;

���� (5)� To any person where the 
issuance would not be in the interest of the public health, safety or welfare;

���� (6)� To any person who is 
subject to a restraining order issued pursuant to the "Prevention of 
Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et seq.) 
prohibiting the person from possessing any firearm;

���� (7)� To any person who as a 
juvenile was adjudicated delinquent for an offense which, if committed by an 
adult, would constitute a crime and the offense involved the unlawful use or 
possession of a weapon, explosive or destructive device or is enumerated in subsection 
d. of section 2 of P.L.1997, c.117 (C.2C:43-7.2);

���� (8)� To any person whose 
firearm is seized pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 
1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et seq.) and whose firearm has not been 
returned; or

���� (9)� To any person named on 
the consolidated Terrorist Watchlist main