A federal judge blocks more provisions of New Jersey's new gun law

Phil Murphy

A federal judge blocks more provisions of New Jersey's new gun law

"We are disappointed that the Court struck down the reasonable limitation on the right to bear firearms in public, which is entirely consistent with the Second Amendment," said Phil Murphy spokesman Tyler Jones.

A federal judge on Monday blocked further enforcement of New Jersey's gun law, less than a month after she blocked other sections of the new law.

The order from US District Judge Renée Marie Bombe - appointed by former President George W. Bush - temporarily lifts the blanket ban on carrying guns in parks, on beaches, and in casinos. An earlier order issued by Bumb this month blocked sections of the law prohibiting the carrying of weapons in places where alcoholic beverages are served, in public libraries or museums, recreational facilities, and on private property where the owner does not give express permission. It also barred restrictions on how weapons were carried in vehicles, the previous arrangement still in effect.

The new law, signed by Governor Phil Murphy in December, revamped the state's gun enforcement process and requirements and created "sensitive places" where guns could not be carried. The law came in response to a US Supreme Court ruling in June that greatly expanded the scope of who can bring a weapon outside the home.

A legal challenge was filed immediately after Murphy signed the measure into law.

New York has enacted a similar law banning places where guns may be carried, but that law is also the subject of an ongoing lawsuit.

Gun rights groups haven't gotten all they want from Bombs. For example, the judge said that plaintiffs did not have standing to challenge bans on carrying guns in zoos, medical facilities, airports, and on filming locations. Gun rights groups also wanted her to ban the carrying of firearms in stadiums. Pomp denied this request, declaring the playing fields to be similar to schools—the district courts had indicated that no weapons could be carried.

However, challenges to those rulings are expected to resurface in later stages of litigation.

"This marks the beginning of the end for Governor Murphy's new unconstitutional carry law, which has caught fire," Scott Bach, executive director of the New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs Association, said in a statement. He showed that constitutional issues are already at a premium."

In her 46-page opinion, Pomp, sitting in Camden, writes that the state failed to provide evidence that some of the "sensitive places" specified in the law were analogous to a "historical tradition of regulating firearms" and the legal standard for carrying weapons is to have them in a place what.

Democratic leaders insisted the new law was consistent with the constitution and the Supreme Court ruling in June. The motion by Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, who played a key role in drafting the law, in intervening in the case to defend the law, was approved.

"Our law follows common sense that keeps dangerous weapons out of places of learning and recreation where there are children, families, and people living peacefully," Coughlin said in a statement. "I am disappointed, but we have joined the lawsuit to ensure our voice is heard in the legal process, and we look forward to fully enforcing the law to keep our communities safe."

In separate statements, spokespeople for Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin said they were "disappointed" with Pomp's decision.

"We are disappointed that the Court has struck down the reasonable limitation on the right to bear firearms in public, which is entirely consistent with the Second Amendment," Murphy's spokesperson, Tyler Jones, said. "We look forward to being able to appeal the ruling, and we are confident it will be overturned."

"We are disappointed that the court has undermined important and long-standing protections against gun violence in our parks and casinos," Platkin said. "Today's order is bad for public safety and contravenes the Second Amendment. But these orders remain temporary, and we look forward to pressing our case, including eventually.