New Jersey’s Democrat governor has just proposed what could be the highest fees in the nation for owning and carrying a gun.
Gov. Philip D. Murphy is pushing to add to his state’s already strict gun laws by proposing an increase in New Jersey’s state fees, making it nearly 20 times more expensive to own and carry a gun, The New York Times reported.
Under Murphy’s plan, firearm identification cards would increase from $5 to $100, while an owner’s permit – currently $2 would go up to $50 and a carry permit would cost $400, skyrocketing up from the current rate of $20.
“There’s no war on responsible gun owners,” Mr. Murphy claimed. “We can support the efforts of the attorney general, state troopers, county and local law enforcement, to do the stuff we need to do: track crime, track gun violence, combat trafficking of illegal guns.”
Murphy is also looking to add an ammunition excise tax of 10 percent and a firearms excise tax of 2.5 percent as part of the state budget which must pass the Legislature by June 30.
The Democrat, who signed a “high capacity” magazine ban in New Jersey back in December, said funds from the proposed new fees would go toward anti-violence initiatives, although The Times noted that “he is prohibited by state law from directing the new revenue toward specific programs.”
Democrats who control the State Legislature are reportedly not happy about the proposal which would basically be imposing new taxes on New Jersey residents who own and carry guns. But gun owners and gun-rights groups see it as something more.
“This is clear bullying of law-abiding gun owners in the state,” Cody McLaughlin, spokesman for the pro-hunting group New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, said. “You’re talking about sportsmen that are already paying hundreds of dollars a year in license fees.”
Many slammed the proposal for the obvious effect it will have on those in lower-income homes, essentially pricing them out of being able to own a firearm.
Should call it the “Leave the Poor Defenseless Act.” https://t.co/XMJrxlyNj4
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) April 23, 2019
This is de facto discrimination against economically disadvantaged people by unreasonably burdening their ability to exercise a Constitutionally protected right.
— ROCK THUNDERPUNCH (@RokThunderpunch) April 22, 2019
Basically, the poor aren’t allowed to own guns.
— The Real Lee (@XxTheRealLeexX) April 22, 2019
“It’s going to affect gun shops tremendously,” Lisa Caso, a gun-store owner in Jersey City, said. “It’s going to deter a lot of people from buying permits. In our business, you have people coming in who barely have money to buy the most modestly priced guns, which are around $300.”
“I think what Murphy would want to happen is for every gun shop in the state of New Jersey to just close,” she told The Times, noting that her customers have said they are stocking up on permits now in case the proposal goes through.
The annual revenue from the new fees and taxes is projected to be about $9 million, according to the State Treasury Department. This represents only a small fraction of the state’s $38 billion overall budget.
“I think we’ve done a lot of gun reform in this state. We are the most progressive state in the nation when it comes to gun reform,” Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney said, according to The Times. “Just to check a box to say you did something, I’m not sure that’s necessary. I don’t think it’s going to raise a lot of money.”
Murphy’s proposal earned plenty of criticism on Twitter.
If this works, maybe we can increase the renewal fees of driver’s licenses to $550 to combat drunk driving.
— Eric Kemppainen (@Kempy) April 22, 2019
“Gotta keep guns out of the hands of the law abiding poor people.”
– New Jersey— EvilJester ☠ (@EvilJester01) April 22, 2019
Democrats are Jim Crowing again.
— Antonio Martinez (@djtechchicago) April 22, 2019
Way to go, NJ, you’re canceling the Bill of Rights for those that aren’t wealthy!#2A
— NonAggressionPrinciple (@NonAggressionP1) April 22, 2019
So the poor will not be able to protect themselves, those with means will do as they always do and criminals will continue to prey upon those they know can’t afford the “fee”…liberal logic at its finest!
— Craig Coughlin (@cough6609) April 22, 2019
As a NJ resident, I’ve never been too interested in buying a gun. But if this proposal is voted yes on, I’m going to rush to get myself a gun (or few) before this goes through. That’s tyranny right there.
— justineanne (@justine02372712) April 22, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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