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.
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 2022, New Jersey had the fourth lowest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 434 people die from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every 20 hours. Forty-five percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 54% are gun homicides. In New Jersey, the rate of gun deaths decreased 13% from 2013 to 2022, compared to a 36% increase nationwide.
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
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 LAW SCORECARD
The data is clear: States with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.
Read MoreEXPLORE NEW JERSEY’S GUN LAWS
WHO CAN HAVE A GUN
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
GUNS IN PUBLIC
HARDWARE & AMMUNITION
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
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We’re in this together. To build a safer America—one where children and parents in every neighborhood can learn, play, work, and worship without fear of gun violence—we need you standing beside us in this fight.
