New Jersey has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Gov. Phil Murphy has credited these laws, at least in part, for the fact that there were fewer reported shootings in 2023 than in almost 15 years.
The State Commission of Investigation (SCI), however, recently reported that there has been an alarming surge in the use of “ghost guns.” These are guns that have no serial number, which makes them virtually untraceable by law enforcement. They’re generally made from kits or parts that can be ordered online.
New Jersey’s ghost gun laws are also among the toughest in the country. For example, it’s illegal to knowingly possess, sell, transfer or dispose of firearms without a federally registered serial number.
Laws need to keep up with changing technology
The SCI recommended in its report that the state amend the current law to prohibit the possession of plans that can be used to make these firearms using 3D printers. While it’s illegal under state law to distribute the computer code needed to print the guns, it’s not illegal to possess it.
Further, the SCI advises that devices that can convert semiautomatic firearms into “rapid-firing machine guns” are illegal. The head of the SCI noted that while updates to the law are required “to address the latest technological advances now fueling gun violence in our communities.” She noted that “homemade ghost guns and gun conversion devices are becoming easier and easier for bad actors to obtain….”
Unfamiliarity with ghost guns can lead to legal peril
The elements that go into creating a ghost gun may be unfamiliar to many people. It’s possible to have them and not realize just what you have. Many people wrongly assume that anything that can be ordered online must be legal.
The best way to avoid a weapons charge related to ghost guns is not to have any of these things in your possession. State and local law enforcement agencies take ghost gun laws very seriously. If you’re facing a charge related to ghost guns, it’s crucial to take it seriously and to get legal guidance as soon as possible.