STATE
NEW JERSEY GUN LAWS
New Jersey has taken decisive action to protect its residents, setting an example for other states by enacting some of the country’s strongest gun laws.
Scorecard Grade
New Jersey was the first state to comprehensively regulate untraceable and undetectable firearms, or “ghost guns”, and is a leader on many other gun safety policies. In 2024, New Jersey had the third lowest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 442 people die from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every 20 hours. Forty-seven percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 51% are gun homicides. In New Jersey, the rate of gun deaths decreased 25% from 2015 to 2024, while the gun death rate rose 15% nationwide over this same time period.
EXPLORE NEW JERSEY’S GUN LAWS
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
What New Jersey Does Well
- Universal background checks
- Gun owner licensing
- Extreme risk protection orders
- Domestic violence gun laws
- Assault weapon restrictions
- Large capacity magazine ban
- Strong concealed carry law
- Certain open carry regulations
- Child access prevention laws
- Community violence intervention funding
- Microstamping requirements
- Victims’ Access to Justice Law
- Some ghost gun restrictions
- Conversion Device Restrictions
What New Jersey Is Missing
- Firearm relinquishment laws
- Reporting of long gun sale records to law enforcement
- Gaps in assault weapon and ghost gun laws
- Gaps in Minimum age law
- Gaps in victims’ access to justice law
SPOTLIGHT
GUN VIOLENCE STATISTICS
Explore facts, figures, and original analysis compiled by our experts. To end our gun violence crisis, we need to better understand where, how, and why violence occurs.
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JOIN THE FIGHT
Nearly 47,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence every year. In communities, courts, and ballot boxes nationwide, GIFFORDS fights to save lives from gun violence. Will you join us?