Greenwald, Holley, Moriarty Bill to Require Background Checks for Private Gun Sales Advanced By Senate Panel

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald and Assemblymen Jamel Holley and Paul Moriarty to improve gun safety by requiring background checks for private gun sales cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday.

“Requiring a licensee to complete a National Instant Criminal Background Check on the recipient of a handgun, rifle or shotgun is just plain common sense,” said Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington). “It’s shocking that we don’t do this already, but we are fixing this gaping loophole with this bill to make us all safer.”

“This is an idea everyone should support,” said Holley (D-Union). “We can fix this and both protect the public and the rights of law-abiding citizens who have nothing to fear from a background check. This will make for a safer New Jersey.”

The bill (A-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.

The licensee would be required to complete a National Instant Criminal Background Check on the recipient of the handgun, rifle or shotgun.

Exceptions under the 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 bill will return to the Senate President for consideration for a vote on the Senate floor.