Yesterday, the New Jersey Second Amendment Society (NJ2AS), the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs (ANJRPC), and Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners (CNJFO), filed a federal lawsuit challenging New Jersey’s discriminatory, confusing, and delay-ridden gun permitting scheme. The case, Kendrick v. Grewal, can be viewed by clicking here.
The lawsuit challenges New Jersey’s draconian and discriminatory permitting scheme that has abused residents’ rights for decades. We all know the horrible tragedy of Carol Bowne, the South Jersey woman who was scared for her life against her violent ex-boyfriend that abused her. She told the police every day he was going to kill her and applied for a gun permit.
The police took their time and ultimately Carol’s violent ex-boyfriend upheld his promise and stabbed her to death at her home…43 days after she applied and waited in fear every day. Carol knew the greatest equalizer was a gun, and ultimately she died because she had to beg the government for a permission slip to protect herself. If she lived 20 minutes across the border in Pennsylvania, she could have gone to a gun store, had a modern and thorough FBI background check done in minutes, and purchase a firearm to protect herself. New Jersey’s laws killed Carol and protected her violent attacker, and we are confident the Courts will agree and strike down the provisions that require citizens to obtain an ID card or permit to acquire a firearm.
“For decades, New Jersey residents have suffered in the hands of the New Jersey government, and have had their Second Amendment rights trampled on. NJ2AS, along with the nation’s leading Second Amendment organizations mentioned before, plan to change that!” said NJ2AS President Alex “Alejandro” Roubian.
Also joining the lawsuit is Bob’s Little Sport Shop and three private citizens.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and the named defendants in the complaint are New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, State Police Supt. Patrick J. Callahan, Bridgeton Police Chief Michael Giamari, Harrison Township Police Chief Ronald A. Cundey and Glassboro Police Chief John Polillo, in their official capacities.