Madden Bill To Address Need-Based Exemptions In ‘One Handgun A Month’ Law Gets Final Legislative Approval

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden which authorizes certain need-based exemptions within the “One Handgun a Month” law has been signed into law by Governor Corzine.

“When the original ‘One Handgun a Month’ law was passed, the focus was on ending straw gun purchases. With that legislation, however, we made it more difficult for collectors, licensed firearms dealers, and sportsmen, who are either licensed to sell or own firearms to carry out their normal business activities,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, a former State Trooper. “This law specifically addresses situations like the need to purchase more than one handgun as part of a collection, estate sale or inheritance. Through this law, we are ensuring that the legal transactions of legitimate business owners are not made to suffer because of the illegal actions of straw gun purchasers.”

TRENTON – Senators Fred H. Madden and Sandra Bolden Cunningham recently introduced two measures designed to clarify some of the specifics of the current “One Handgun a Month” law, which prohibits the sale of more than one handgun per person, within a 30 day period. The bills would implement recommendations from the initial report of the Governor’s Firearms Advisory Task Force.

The Task Force was created by Executive Order on June 25, 2009 – the day the “One Handgun a Month” bill was approved by the Legislature. The bill was signed into law on August 5, 2009.

“These bills are designed to take some of the recommendations of the Task Force, and clearly outline the circumstances under which a person would be exempt from the one-handgun-a-month limitation said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, a former State Trooper. “As the Vice Chair of the Task Force, we found a few issues that could have caused potential problems, and these bills would clarify the provisions of the ‘One Handgun a Month’ law, without compromising the intent or effectiveness of the original legislation.”

TRENTON – The full Senate today gave unanimous final legislative approval to three measures aimed at increasing handgun safety and ending the illegal practice of straw gun purchasing here in New Jersey.

Signed into law in July of 2009, P.L.2009, c.104, more commonly known as the “One Handgun a Month” law, bans the sale or purchase of more than one handgun per person, within a 30-day period. The law focuses on straw purchasers and bulk sellers, who obtain multiple gun permits, buy the guns and then sell them on the black market to unlicensed buyers.

“These bills are designed to address potential shortcomings within the current ‘One Handgun a Month’ law, while ensuring that the original intent of the law remains uncompromised,” said Senator Fred H. Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, a former State Trooper, who served as Vice Chair of the Governor’s Firearms Advisory Task Force. “While the Task Force was conducting its research, we found some issues that could have posed problems for handgun owners, collectors, and sportsmen. These bills would ensure that firearms licensed dealers are able to carry on business, and that handgun owners, collectors, and sportsmen with a need to buy more than one handgun within a 30-day period have a process in place to seek a waiver.”

TRENTON – The Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee today released three bills aimed at increasing handgun safety, and reducing the number of straw handgun purchases made in New Jersey.

One measure, sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Sandra Bolden Cunningham, would highlight that certain transfers of handguns are not subject to the current “One Handgun a Month” law. These transfers would include sales among licensed retail dealers, wholesale dealers and registered manufacturers. The bill would also permit transfers of handguns from any gun owner to a licensed retailer, registered wholesaler or manufacturer.

“As Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Firearms Advisory Task Force, I know firsthand that we found some issues that could have proven to be potential problems. These two bills address the needed changes that came as a result of the ‘One Handgun a Month’ legislation,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, a former State Trooper. “One measure, S-3068, would address a technicality in the language of the ‘One Handgun a Month’ law, and would clean up any shortcomings, as they pertain to firearms dealers and their ability to carry on business. The second measure, S-3104, would provide an avenue for which licensed handgun owners and collectors with a need to buy more than one handgun, could apply to the State Police for a waiver.”