At the Budget Address Gov Murphy stated:
“This is an unfinished item from last year’s to-do list. Let’s commit to completing this effort, together.
And, I renew my call for us to increase the fees for gun licenses and handgun permits. It was long past time we did this last year, when we took so many steps to restore our standing as a national leader in gun safety, and it’s even more past time today.
Our gun fees were set in 1966 – when Governor Richard Hughes worked in this building. It’s now 2019. It is actually cheaper to get a permit to purchase a handgun – $2 – than it is to get a dog license in many of our communities.
This is what’s needed to support the efforts of Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, our State Troopers, and county and local law enforcement, to fight crime and track gun violence, and to combat the trafficking of illegal guns into our state. In 2018, roughly 80 percent of guns used in the commission of a crime came from out of state.
As with our other efforts, I know the people of New Jersey will support us.”
Governor Murphy should learn New Jersey history. Per the New York Times, during 1967 Governor Richard Hughes carried out the largest warrantless search of homes in black neighborhoods to search for guns claiming a “state of emergency.” Without proof or evidence homes in black neighborhoods were ransacked and damaged. No guns were found and ultimately the illegal searches were called off after enormous backlash by Civil Rights groups.
Listed on Murphy’s ‘Budget in Brief’ it states “These fees will support the State’s continued investment in our State Troopers and their operational needs” and shows the increase in fees will generate $1.4 million for firearm licenses and taxes on ammunition sales will generate $3.2 million. Somehow Murphy believes responsible firearm owners should pay the bill for criminal activity.
NJ2AS exclusively broke the story last week that our sources in the Murphy administration stated he wants to raise the cost of a firearm identification card (FID) to $300.As stated in our prior article, tactics of taxing firearm ownership has been used by racists and white supremacists in the past to specifically target low-income communities of color from exercising their right to own firearms.
While voter ID laws have been overturned by courts as discriminating against minorities, NJ2AS is in the process of working with our legal team to proactively file a lawsuit against the Murphy administration to challenge current and/or future increases in the cost of exercising your Second Amendment right. Please support our efforts by becoming a proud card-carrying member or donor and click here.