An Act concerning firearms and amending N.J.S.2C:58-5.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. N.J.S.2C:58-5 is amended to read as follows:

2C:58-5. a. Any person who desires to purchase [,] or possess [and carry] a machine gun or assault firearm in this State may apply for a license to do so by filing in the Superior Court in the county in which he resides, or conducts his business if a nonresident, a written application setting forth in detail his reasons for desiring such a license. The Superior Court shall refer the application to the county prosecutor for investigation and recommendation. A copy of the prosecutor's report, together with a copy of the notice of the hearing on the application, shall be served upon the superintendent and the chief police officer of every municipality in which the applicant intends to [carry] own or possess the machine gun or assault firearm, unless, for good cause shown, the court orders notice to be given wholly or in part by publication.

b. No license shall be issued to any person who would not qualify for a permit to carry a handgun under [section 2C:58-4] N.J.S.2C:58-4, and no license shall be issued unless the court finds that the public safety and welfare so require. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the court in granting or denying an application, including the applicant, the prosecutor, or any law enforcement officer entitled to notice under subsection a. who appeared in opposition to the application, may appeal [said] the decision in accordance with law and the rules governing the courts of this State.

c. Upon the issuance of any license under this section, true copies of such license shall be filed with the superintendent and the chief police officer of the municipality where the licensee resides or has his place of business.

d. In issuing any license under this section, the court shall attach thereto such conditions and limitations as it deems to be in the public interest. Unless otherwise provided by court order at the time of issuance, each license shall expire one year from the date of issuance, and may be renewed in the same manner and under the same conditions as apply to original applications.

e. Any license may be revoked by the Superior Court, after a hearing upon notice to the holder thereof, if the court finds that the holder is no longer qualified for the issuance of such a license or that revocation is necessary for the public safety and welfare. Any citizen may apply to the court for revocation of a license issued under this section.

f. A filing fee of $75.00 shall be required for each application filed pursuant to the provisions of this section. Of this filing fee, $25.00 shall be forwarded to the State Treasury for deposit in the account used by the Violent Crimes Compensation Board in satisfying claims and for related administrative costs pursuant to the provisions of the "Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.317 (C.52:4B-1 et seq.).

g. Any license granted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall expire two years from the date of issuance and may be renewed in the same manner and under the same conditions as apply to original applications. If the holder of a license dies, the holder's heirs or estate shall have 90 days to dispose of that firearm as provided in section 12 of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-13).

h. If an assault firearm licensed pursuant to the provisions of this section is used in the commission of a crime, the holder of the license for that assault firearm shall be civilly liable for any damages resulting from that crime. The liability imposed by this subsection shall not apply if the assault firearm used in the commission of the crime was stolen and the license holder reported the theft of the firearm to law enforcement authorities within 24 hours of the license holder's knowledge of the theft.

i. Nothing in P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-12 et al.) shall be construed to abridge any exemptions provided under N.J.S.2C:39-6.

(cf: P.L.1990, c.32, s.9)

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill prohibits a person who holds a license to purchase, possess, and carry a machine gun or assault firearm from carrying the firearm in public.

Under N.J.S.2C:58-5, a person may qualify to obtain a license to purchase, possess, and carry a machine gun or assault firearm by demonstrating to the Superior Court that the person meets the same justifiable need standard necessary to carry a handgun and that the public safety and welfare requires the issuance of the license. Under current regulations (N.J.A.C.13:54-2.4), justifiable need is defined as the urgent necessity for self-protection, as evidenced by serious threats, specific threats, or previous attacks, which demonstrate a special danger to the applicant's life that cannot be avoided by reasonable means other than by issuance of a permit to carry. A license to purchase, possess, and carry a machine gun or assault firearm expires after two years and may be renewed in the same manner that it was obtained.

Under the bill, a person who obtains this rarely-issued license is permitted to purchase and possess a machine gun or assault firearm, but would be prohibited from carrying the machine gun or assault firearm in the same manner as a person who obtains a handgun carry permit.