Episode 233-Jersey’s Newest Registration Scheme

Also Available OnSearchable Podcast TranscriptGun Lawyer– Episode 233

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

New Jersey gun laws, de facto registration, Attorney General, consent order, gun store, unlawful sales, firearm enforcement, gun industry, reasonable controls, gun-related products, firearm possessors, verification records, Second Amendment, federal enforcement, anti-gun movement.

SPEAKERS

Speaker 3, Teddy Nappen, Evan Nappen

Evan Nappen 00:15 I’m Evan Nappen

Teddy Nappen 00:16 And I’m Teddy Nappen.

Evan Nappen 00:18

And welcome to Gun Lawyer. So, New Jersey is at it again, and this time it’s a doozy. This is the beginning of their de facto registration plans to gather information and find out who has purchased any magazines, of any type, magazines of any type, and any gun related product of any type. Wait till you hear about this one. The Attorney General (Matthew J. ) Platkin has just recently put out a news release, folks, where they announced a consent order resolving a suit against a gun store in New Jersey for “unlawful sales to unverified buyers”. (https://www.njoag.gov/ag-platkin-announces-consent- order-resolving-suit-against-gun-store-for-unlawful-sales-to-unverified-buyers/) That’s the heading of the news release.

Evan Nappen 01:22

Apparently what happened was there was a complaint filed by the Attorney General’s Office, this is right from their news release, in November of 2024. It was filed under their so-called SAFE, the Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement Office, against Point Blank, located in East Hanover, which is a gun shop in East Hanover. The Attorney General claimed that they sold a handgun ammunition magazine, and two months later, 1,000 rounds of .223 ammo to a first time customer. They made sales in cash and did not ask to see any type of identification, permit or credential of the purchaser, or otherwise take steps to exclude sales to prohibited firearm possessors.

Evan Nappen 02:26

“I will not tolerate lax and unlawful practices by firearms businesses — the very kind that can lead to a deadly mass shooting,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Our Legislature and Governor put these laws into place to keep us safe and they must be followed. We are glad that Point Blank has agreed to follow the law going forward.” Further, Ravi Ramanathan, Director of SAFE, says, “Gun stores must take

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reasonable steps to make sure that they only sell ammunition”, and get this, “and other gun-related products to people who can lawfully possess a firearm. I appreciate that Point Blank has accepted responsibility and has agreed to change its practices going forward.”

Evan Nappen 03:24

Well, gee, what exactly did they agree to and what’s going on? Well, I’ll tell you what, folks. In this same news release, which there will be a link on the website for you to read, you can also read the actual consent order that was posted online by the Attorney General as well. This order was filed (March 13, 2025), and let’s review it, because, my friends, the devil is in the detail. The picture being painted here is pretty scary. Let me tell you why and show you why.

Evan Nappen 03:58

In this final judgment, the way it begins, it says, “Findings of Fact”. Under these facts, one of the key facts, “On March 20, 2024, Point Blank sold a Glock Model 22 .40 caliber 10-round pistol magazine to a first-time customer who did not present any identification or credential prior to making the purchase (the “March Sale”).” Now, prior to any of this, there was never a law that required a purchase permit or any type of identification on the sale of a magazine. But wait until you see what they’ve done with this new law that passed. And, of course, none of this was really emphasized as to what their actual sneaky plan was, but it’s revealed now. They also said they sold a case of 1,000 rounds of .223 to a first-time customer who did not present any identification or credentials.

Evan Nappen 05:17

The consent order goes on to say the Conclusions of Law. Now, this is from the actual filed court document. It says, under N.J.S. 2C:58-35(a)(2), listen carefully to this, “A gun industry member shall establish, implement, and enforce reasonable controls regarding its . . . sale of gun-related products.” Do you see how broad that is? Gun-related products. What are reasonable controls? Well, they first make it clear that Point Blank is a gun industry member, and then they quote the definition of what is encompassed by a “gun-related product”. It means, and this is pursuant to the statute signed into law by Murphy, N.J.S. 2C:58-34, ready? Any firearm, ammunition, ammunition magazine, firearm component or part including, but not limited to, a firearm frame and a firearm receiver, or firearm accessory, which product was, or was intended to be, sold, manufactured, distributed, imported or marketed in this State, or which product was possessed in this State and as to which it was reasonably foreseeable that the product would be possessed or used in this State.

Evan Nappen 07:00

Look at how broad this gun-related product definition is. It includes any magazine, all ammunition, all gun parts and any firearm accessory. What else is an accessory, folks? Think about it. Is a scope an accessory? Is a gun case an accessory? Is a forearm? That’s a gun part. Is it also an accessory? A screw? It’s so broad and ridiculous. Plainly here, it’s already including just an ordinary 10-round magazine. What about this law? How is it? What was determined here? What got established in this Point Blank case? Well, wait until you hear, folks. It further says that “reasonable controls” include, ready? Reasonable procedures, safeguards and business practices that are designed to (1) prevent the sale or distribution of a gun-related product to a person prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal Law.

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Evan Nappen 08:20

So, that means now it’s incumbent on any member of the gun industry to make sure that they don’t sell any gun-related product to someone who might be prohibited from possessing a firearm. It extends that disqualification, that person who can’t possess a firearm, extends that liability now to every gun industry member, every dealer, manufacturer, et cetera, everyone that falls under that category, to now have to put safeguards in to make sure that none of these things ever gets sold to that person, even though those people are not prohibited under law themselves from just possessing a magazine. They’re not prohibited under law themselves from possessing a gun part unless it’s an actual receiver. They’re not prohibited under law themselves from having a gun case or a screw to a gun or any other of the accessories. They’re firearm prohibited. But now those people cannot be sold any gun-related products.

Evan Nappen 09:37

And now what does the dealer have to do to comply? What did Point Blank agree to? What are the procedures that the Attorney General has created here in this new approach with this consent order? Well, “Future Compliance Obligations” (from the consent order), wait till you hear this. Point Blank shall establish, implement, and enforce, without exception, procedures and business practices that are reasonably designed to prevent the sale or distribution of any gun-related product to a person prohibited from possessing a firearm under State or federal law. Subject to adequate documentation, adopting and successfully implementing the point-of-sale procedures and business practices contained in this Consent Judgment shall be deemed sufficient.

Evan Nappen 10:41

So, what does Point Blank have to do in order to comply? If they’re completing any of these sales or distribution of gun-related products, they can only be sold to persons who are licensed in New Jersey as a manufacturer, wholesaler or dealer of firearms, or to persons who hold and possess a valid New Jersey Firearms ID Card or permit and first exhibit the card or permit to Point Blank. For the purposes of this paragraph, a valid New Jersey firearms card or permit means: a valid physical New Jersey firearms purchaser identification card, or an electronic New Jersey firearms ID card, which Point Blank confirms matches identifiable information on a valid government photo ID, or; a valid physical New Jersey permit to purchase a handgun, or an electronic permit to purchase a handgun, which Point Blank confirms with that valid government-issued photo ID, or; a valid New Jersey permit to carry a handgun, or an electronic one, or; a valid credential identifying the purchaser as a public safety officer, or; a valid ID that establishes them as a law enforcement officer, or; other documents valid under Title 18 U.S.C. 926(c) for a qualified retired law enforcement officer.

Evan Nappen 12:09

Then Point Blank shall keep records for all sales of gun-related products detailing the means used, including any Identification or credential presented, including the New Jersey State Bureau of Identification (SBI) number, verify that the person is not prohibited under state or federal law, under the verification of records. The Verification Records may be kept in either physical medium or digitally, as long as the records are maintained and secured in a manner that will comply with federal and state law. Now, get a load of this. Here’s the real kicker, right here. “For a period of one year after the Effective Date of this Consent Judgment, Point Blank shall transmit copies of the Verification Records to the

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Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement (“SAFE”) Office on a monthly basis. For the following one- year period, Point Blank shall transmit copies of the Verification Records to the SAFE Office every other month. For the one-year period thereafter, Point Blank shall transmit copies of the Verification Records to the SAFE Office every six months.

Evan Nappen 13:41

So, when you buy any gun-related product from Point Blank, your information is being taken down, recorded, verified and provided to the State of New Jersey, folks. This is the law that the Attorney General says applies now to all gun dealers and gun shops in New Jersey, and they are going to be enforcing it accordingly. So, if dealers are not taking these steps, recording, verifying and making sure that the person that they sell to is not prohibited under federal or state law from possessing a firearm, no gun-related products can be sold or transferred. And this data, this record, this information, must be kept by all dealers in New Jersey. Point Blank is now under the obligation to provide them on a monthly basis, or pursuant to what I just said, to the State of New Jersey. So, New Jersey now gets to build their database. Not just of firearm owners, not just of ammunition purchasers, but of magazines, simple magazines, that are legal and every other gun-related product. This includes all firearm accessories.

Evan Nappen 15:21

This is outrageous. It is gun rights oppression in full bloom. Beware, folks. If you want to get on government of New Jersey databases, here’s how it’s going to happen. And if you think you’re staying under the radar in New Jersey just buying accessories, nope. Not happening, not happening. And anyone selling from out of state, by the way, they’re not excluded. They’re not excluded. I can assure you. You’re going to see the Attorney General bringing actions against anybody selling gun-related products to New Jersey. They’ve done similar things in the past, where out-of-state sellers didn’t know New Jersey law and sold things that were otherwise completely lawful and only weirdly regulated by New Jersey, and then they go after them in these huge lawsuits, huge lawsuits.

Teddy Nappen 16:27

You have to give them credit. It’s quite brilliant on their part. Because all they had to do was test it on, you know, two random dealers.

Evan Nappen 16:35

And now they’ve established the outline that listeners of Gun Lawyer are now hearing about in detail. Plus, Point Blank had to pay $2,500 for attorneys’ fees, filing fees and costs. So, they were stuck with that, too. But what they really wanted to establish here, of course, is what I just said. So, this is a warning, not only to every gun owner in New Jersey about the incredible privacy violation taking place on purchasing lawful items, but to the dealers, manufacturers, and others that fall under that gun industry member definition and who knows what firearm accessory itself even means. In this case, they focused on magazines. But I can well see so many other things being put under this broad umbrella, and it is just outrageous. And there

Teddy Nappen 17:38

Now, could there be a challenge, though, for vagueness, because this is such a broad definition?

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Evan Nappen 17:43

Well, I guess there could be a challenge, but the challenge did not take place here. Instead, Point Blank consented to this arrangement. And look, I don’t know. I’m just speculating. But look, if you’re going to litigate against the State of New Jersey, with all those resources, this could get extremely expensive, and they instead made their choice. I don’t know whatever they weighed to do it. But the fact is, this is now established, in this case, for Point Blank, and it is laying a road map. I’m sure you can see where they’re going with it. And nothing says that this information remains confidential, private. Nothing. No, no one says it can’t get data based. As a matter of fact, they can even store the records digitally as permitted. I mean, this is New Jersey again, taking the steps to further oppress our Second Amendment rights.

Evan Nappen 18:49

That actually brings me, folks to interesting things that are happening in the news. One of the things that I am absolutely most excited about is federally. We are seeing some great positive changes in protecting the Second Amendment, and one of those things that’s really important is the establishment by Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, of the Second Amendment Task Force at the Department of Justice. (https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2025/04/09/bondi-announces-second-amendment-task- force-at-doj-n1228253)

Evan Nappen 19:33

They’re going to be looking at the enforcement of the Second Amendment, not as a second-class right. It is, quote AG Bondi, a policy of this Department of Justice to use its full might to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. This is laying the groundwork for the Department of Justice – Civil Rights Division to enforce civil rights criminally against those that are oppressing gun rights. They have already launched an investigation into the policies of the L.A. Sheriff’s Department when it comes to issuing concealed carry permits. They’re looking as well at New York’s delays in processing permits. It appears to be just as bad as L.A. and California as well.

Evan Nappen 20:42

And just think about what we’re dealing with in New Jersey. The New Jersey laws that are plainly oppressive and infringing. It is my belief that we are going to see action by the federal government finally enforcing the Second Amendment as a civil right, which it is, and not as a second-class right. This fight is going to be fascinating to watch. But for now, you know what we’re dealing with in New Jersey in this recent press release and settlement by the Attorney General, creating what is arguably a de facto beginnings of a registration scheme for every gun-related product sold into or in the State of New Jersey.

Evan Nappen 21:37

Teddy, you have your Press Checks segment because we all know that Press Checks are free. What do you have to tell us about today?

Teddy Nappen 21:46

Well, on the issue of anti-gun Attorney Generals, we’ve been having a lot of wins, just looking in the news. A lot of great wins for the Second Amendment. But after what you just talked about, we must be

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reminded that the anti-gun movement is still thriving. They are still fighting, and they are targeting specifically Attorney Generals. On the Truth About Guns website, they posted that Everytown is looking to spend $10 million to support and help elect, in 10 key swing states, Democrat AGs. (https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/everytown-anti-gun-ag-campaign/) This is ones in Georgia, Minnesota, Nevada, Wisconsin, Virginia. You just saw what happened in New Jersey? What the AG did? He created the SAFE office, where they’ve launched this insane program. They’re going after gun dealers here. This is their game. They are trying to establish all these anti-gun AGs on the ground locally to attack firearm dealers.

Teddy Nappen 22:54

Also, remember the big lawsuit against Glock? It was led by the Maryland AG, who partnered with Everytown. The Illinois and Hawaii AGs, who tried to take down the Federal Protection Lawful Commerce and Arms Act. You see right there is the strategy. Witnessing it with the SAFE Office. That is their goal. And if you actually go on the Everytown website, they’re bragging about it. In 2017, they invested $5 million to elect Attorney Generals nationwide. In North Carolina, the Attorney General partnered with the People’s Lawyer project, and they got Jeff Jackson. They invested $500,000 in Michigan and $500,000 in Nevada. The money is spreading. They took a page out of George Soros. Everytown celebrated their victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, where they sent money to Judge Susan Crawford, as well. They spent nearly a million dollars. You see the strategy, what they’re trying to do, where they’re spreading their influences.

Evan Nappen 23:58

This is another form of weaponization of the system. To oppress our rights. It’s exactly what they’re doing, and this is all in line with it. Also, I hope the DOJ federally really, really begins the aggressive enforcement against this oppression. This is going to be a battle. It’s going to be a battle for our rights. And it’s this innovative technique of the 2A oppressors, to utilize prosecutors here, to utilize consumer protection laws, to pass these laws under the guise of that, to expand anti-Second Amendment policies, always under the heading of safety laws. Safety, safety. It’s all about “safety”, but it’s not really about safety. It’s about taking our rights. It’s about oppression of the Second Amendment. Gathering information and creating the databases so that when they can gain their power back, they can take it to the next level, folks. This is what it’s all about. This is what they’re doing.

Teddy Nappen 25:20

To go off of Matthew Platkin, AG Platkin, he even brags about on his website. The goal is to create a coalition to combat gun violence. (https://www.njoag.gov/ag-platkin-steps-up-efforts-to-combat-gun- violence-through-coalition-with-other-states/) His words from his website. They had 16 other Attorney Generals joining this multi-state coalition.

Evan Nappen 25:39

And they always put it under that banner. They always claim, “gun violence”. Like gun violence is a special, standalone violence. The only reason they want to isolate it is so that they don’t have to call it gun control, because gun control doesn’t sell. So, if we make it about “gun violence” and we make it about safety, then we can sell it to the stupid public and make it look like we’re doing something good.

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When what they’re engaging in is right suppression of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. And that’s their game. That is their game.

Evan Nappen 26:14

And yet we see, federally, again, some great progress. The DOJ and the ATF have announced the end of the Biden zero tolerance policy, which was utilized to shut down dealers throughout America by having zero tolerance for any paperwork violation. That fits their agenda so they could just wipe out dealers by going after them and giving them no ability to change their ways. Just close them down and revoke them under the zero tolerance. It was an outrage. It’s now been revoked, and they’re even looking to get dealers that suffered under that unjust injustice licensed, to get their licenses back. It was a disgusting move by the Biden administration. There’s no limit to what they’ll try to do. But elections have consequences, and you can see that President Trump and his administration are taking steps to remove the oppressions that were put forward by Joe Biden.

Evan Nappen 27:36

Hey, let me tell you about our friends at WeShoot. First of all, they have some special hours of operation for April. They will be closed on Easter. That’s Easter Sunday, April 20th. However, they would like to announce that WeShoot will be hosting a Meet and Greet with the gubernatorial GOP candidate, Bill Spadea. He’ll be there on Wednesday, April 23rd, from six to eight pm. The event is open to the public, and WeShoot encourages you to come by and meet Bill as the GOP candidate. They also want to make clear that on April 24th WeShoot will be closed for a private event. WeShoot is where Teddy and I shoot and where so many others shoot. We love that range right there in Lakewood. They have great training. You can get your CCARE certificate to get your carry. They have a fantastic range and a great pro shop. They have plenty of guns. They will outfit you, set you up, and train you so that you can be a responsible gun owner. WeShoot is, like I said, conveniently located right off the Parkway in Lakewood. You can check them out on their website, which is weshootusa.com. They have a beautiful website with great photos. They run all kinds of great events and offer spectacular training. All your gun needs can be met at WeShoot, from shooting to buying to training. What a great place. Check out WeShoot.

Evan Nappen 29:20

I also want to mention our good friends at the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs. They are the premier gun rights organization in New Jersey. They are the NRA affiliate of New Jersey. They have a full time paid lobbyist in Trenton, and they are fighting these gun laws. Another package of gun rights oppression has been put forward by the Democrats and Murphy and company, and the Association is there fighting for us. It has not become law yet. They’re doing a great job. You want to support the Association. You want to join. Go to a njrpc.org, and make sure you are a member. You’ll get the email alerts of all the shenanigans taking place in Trenton and our continuing fights in the federal courts. They are challenging these outrageous laws, including the assault firearm law, the magazine law and the Carry Killer law, and more and more. It looks like we’re going to have even more lawsuits, because New Jersey keeps on coming. And that’s why you need to be a member of the Association (ANJRPC.org).

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Evan Nappen 30:27

While you’re at it, make sure you get a copy of my book, New Jersey Gun Law. It’s the Bible of New Jersey gun law. It is over 500 pages with 120 topics, all in a question and answer format. It is the guidebook used by everyone that wants to know about New Jersey gun laws. It is your number one ability to not become a GOFU. To get my book, go to EvanNappen.com and look for the big orange book. It’s the 25th Anniversary Edition. And when you get the book, scan the front cover for the QR code right there, and join my free subscriber base. It’s private. When you join, you get immediate access to the archives, and you can download right away the 2025 Comprehensive Update that completely updates the book. And as new laws pass, you will know. I will send out alerts to my subscribers for free, and you can download any of the new materials so that you stay current. The book stays current, and you can hopefully not be a GOFU in New Jersey, because the hits keep on coming. The fight is on. We have to keep battling. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance, and that’s what it takes.

Evan Nappen 31:43

Hey, there’s still more positive things going on federally. Not the least of which is a new federal law that has been put forward to deregulate short barrel rifles, short barrel shotguns and any other weapons. They are going after the NFA, the National Firearm Act. (https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/short-act- nfa-repeal-pistol-brace-ban/) This new law is called the SHORT (“Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today) Act. S, H, O, R T, and that was the House version. And I believe this one is called the rifle act. Anyway. Don’t worry about names. The bottom line is, we’re seeing action federally to try to scale back the abuses of the National Firearm Act by arbitrarily declaring certain guns to be intrinsically a problem, which, of course, they’re not. It’s never the guns. It’s the people. It’s people that are the key to the problem. It’s not the firearms. Focus on inanimate objects is stupid. It is a fool’s errand, and yet good people suffer. Law-abiding citizens get turned into criminals. The NFA has been turning law-abiding citizens into criminals since the 1930s, and it’s about time we see changes. This is long overdue, and this is yet another good sign of things happening federally.

Evan Nappen 33:09

And that’s not the only thing. Just recently, President Trump and his administration have pared back the anti-gun CDC. That’s right, the CDC was used as yet another propaganda arm of gun rights oppression. They were trying to make guns a health issue, which, of course, it is not. And by using that and using the funds to help spread the propaganda, this has been a continuing game by the Democrats, by the left, and by the anti-gun rights oppressors. President Trump has now taken steps to pare back the anti-gun CDC Center and their efforts to infringe on our rights and create this false narrative of a health issue. It is really great and positive to see the things that are happening federally, in contrast to how sad and disappointing it is to see things that are going on in our state. But the fight continues, and it’s critical.

Evan Nappen 34:29

Let me take you now to our favorite segment of the show, the GOFU, the Gun Owner. Fuck Up. GOFUs are important because these are expensive lessons learned by others that you get to learn for free. So, you get quite a bargain when you listen to Gun Lawyer. Remember, these are all based on actual cases and things that come my way. This week’s GOFU has to do with the NFA. In other states, where

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they respect gun rights and allow law-abiding citizens, as long as they follow the federal law, which does need to go, but as long as you follow it, you’re allowed to have NFA firearms.

Evan Nappen 35:11

When you come to New Jersey, you can’t bring those NFA guns here, and it creates a problem. Simply because your gun has been federally registered, whether it’s your firearm, silencer, suppressor, SBR (Short Barrel Rifle), or any other weapon, whatever it is under the NFA that was legal where you lived before, and you have all the federal registration and paperwork on it, it does not, in any way, preempt or override New Jersey’s ban on all those items. So, please don’t bring your legal NFA items into New Jersey. You do not have protection simply because you’ve obeyed all the federal laws surrounding it. And by the way, there also are federal laws for many National Firearm Act items when you want to bring them across state lines. If you move with them, there are often requirements that you have to let ATF know about certain NFA items. If you do change your address, it has to be to a place where it’s legal. Be very careful when dealing with NFA and be very careful if you have the misfortune of having to move to New Jersey.

Evan Nappen 36:24

This is Evan Nappen and Teddy Nappen reminding you that gun laws don’t protect honest citizens from criminals. They protect criminals from honest citizens.

Speaker 3 36:34

Gun Lawyer is a Counter Think Media production. The music used in this broadcast was managed by Cosmo Music, New York, New York. Reach us by emailing Evan@gun.lawyer. The information and opinions in this broadcast do not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state.

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Downloadable PDF TranscriptGun Lawyer S3 E233_Transcript
About The HostEvan Nappen, Esq.

Known as “America’s Gun Lawyer,” Evan Nappen is above all a tireless defender of justice. Author of eight bestselling books and countless articles on firearms, knives, and weapons history and the law, a certified Firearms Instructor, and avid weapons collector and historian with a vast collection that spans almost five decades — it’s no wonder he’s become the trusted, go-to expert for local, industry and national media outlets.

Regularly called on by radio, television and online news media for his commentary and expertise on breaking news Evan has appeared countless shows including Fox News – Judge Jeanine, CNN – Lou Dobbs, Court TV, Real Talk on WOR, It’s Your Call with Lyn Doyle, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk, and Cam & Company/NRA News.

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