An Act concerning public safety and supplementing chapter 39 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes and amending N.J.S.2C:39-5.

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

1. (New section) a. In addition to any other penalty imposed under current law, a person is guilty of a crime of the second degree if that person sells, attempts to sell, offers to sell, gives, assigns or otherwise transfers any firearm, firearm receiver, or magazine that is manufactured or produced using additive manufacturing or three dimensional printing technology, computer numerical control mills, or a laser cutting machine and:

(1) is not detectible by walk-through metal detectors calibrated and operated to detect firearms; or

(2) contains a component which, when subject to inspection by x-ray machines commonly used at airports, does not generate an image that accurately depicts the shape of the component.

b. A person convicted of violating this section shall be sentenced by the court to a term of imprisonment, which shall include the imposition of a minimum term during which the defendant shall be ineligible for parole. The minimum term of parole ineligibility shall be fixed at five years.

c. A person who is convicted of a crime under this section shall be ineligible for participation in any program of intensive supervision

2. N.J.S.2C:39-5 is amended to read as follows:

2C:39-5. a. Machine guns. Any person who knowingly has in his possession a machine gun or any instrument or device adaptable for use as a machine gun, without being licensed to do so as provided in N.J.S.2C:58-5, is guilty of a crime of the second degree.

b. Handguns. Any person who knowingly has in his possession any handgun, including any antique handgun, without first having obtained a permit to carry the same as provided in N.J.S.2C:58-4, is guilty of a crime of the third degree if the handgun is in the nature of an air gun, spring gun or pistol or other weapon of a similar nature in which the propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon dioxide, compressed or other gas or vapor, air or compressed air, or is ignited by compressed air, and ejecting a bullet or missile smaller than three-eighths of an inch in diameter, with sufficient force to injure a person. Otherwise it is a crime of the second degree.

c. Rifles and shotguns. (1) Any person who knowingly has in his possession any rifle or shotgun without having first obtained a firearms purchaser identification card in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.2C:58-3, is guilty of a crime of the third degree.

(2) Unless otherwise permitted by law, any person who knowingly has in his possession any loaded rifle or shotgun is guilty of a crime of the third degree.

d. Other weapons. Any person who knowingly has in his possession any other weapon under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for such lawful uses as it may have is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

e. Firearms or other weapons in educational institutions.

(1) Any person who knowingly has in his possession any firearm in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of any school, college, university or other educational institution, without the written authorization of the governing officer of the institution, is guilty of a crime of the third degree, irrespective of whether he possesses a valid permit to carry the firearm or a valid firearms purchaser identification card.

(2) Any person who knowingly possesses any weapon enumerated in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection r. of N.J.S.2C:39-1 or any components which can readily be assembled into a firearm or other weapon enumerated in subsection r. of N.J.S.2C:39-1 or any other weapon under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for such lawful use as it may have, while in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of any school, college, university or other educational institution without the written authorization of the governing officer of the institution is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

(3) Any person who knowingly has in his possession any imitation firearm in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of any school, college, university or other educational institution, without the written authorization of the governing officer of the institution, or while on any school bus is a disorderly person, irrespective of whether he possesses a valid permit to carry a firearm or a valid firearms purchaser identification card.

f. Assault firearms. Any person who knowingly has in his possession an assault firearm is guilty of a crime of the second degree except if the assault firearm is licensed pursuant to N.J.S.2C:58-5; registered pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-12); or rendered inoperable pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-13).

g. (1) The temporary possession of a handgun, rifle or shotgun by a person receiving, possessing, carrying or using the handgun, rifle, or shotgun under the provisions of section 1 of P.L.1992, c.74 (C.2C:58-3.1) shall not be considered unlawful possession under the provisions of subsection b. or c. of this section.

(2) The temporary possession of a firearm by a person receiving, possessing, carrying or using the firearm under the provisions of section 1 of P.L.1997, c.375 (C.2C:58-3.2) shall not be considered unlawful possession under the provisions of this section.

h. A person who is convicted of a crime under subsection a., b. [or] , f. , or j. of this section shall be ineligible for participation in any program of intensive supervision; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to a crime under subsection b. involving only a handgun which is in the nature of an air gun, spring gun or pistol or other weapon of a similar nature in which the propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon dioxide, compressed or other gas or vapor, air or compressed air, or is ignited by compressed air, and ejecting a bullet or missile smaller than three-eighths of an inch in diameter, with sufficient force to injure a person.

i. A person convicted of violating subsection a., b. [or] , f. , or j. of this section shall be sentenced by the court to a term of imprisonment, which shall include the imposition of a minimum term during which the defendant shall be ineligible for parole, if the court finds that the aggravating circumstance set forth in paragraph (5) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:44-1 applies. The minimum term of parole ineligibility shall be fixed at five years. The sentencing court shall make a finding on the record as to whether the aggravating circumstance set forth in paragraph (5) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:44-1 applies, and the court shall presume that there is a substantial likelihood that the defendant is involved in organized criminal activity if there is a substantial likelihood that the defendant is a member of an organization or group that engages in criminal activity. The prosecution at the sentencing hearing shall have the initial burden of producing evidence or information concerning the defendant's membership in such an organization or group.

j. Three dimensional computer printed firearms. A person is guilty of a crime of the second degree if that person has in his possession a firearm, firearm receiver, or magazine that is manufactured or produced using additive manufacturing or three dimensional printing technology, computer numerical control mills, or a laser cutting machine and:

(1) is not detectible by walk-through metal detectors calibrated and operated to detect firearms; or

(2) contains a component which, when subject to inspection by x-ray machines commonly used at airports, does not generate an image that accurately depicts the shape of the component.

(cf: P.L.2009, c.13, s.1)

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill prohibits the sale and possession of a firearm, firearm receiver, or magazine that is manufactured or produced using additive manufacturing or three dimensional printing technology, computer numerical control mills, or a laser cutting machine, which is undetectable by metal detectors or x-ray machines used at airports.

Under the provisions of the bill, it is a crime of the second degree to possess, sell, offer for sale, give, assign or otherwise transfer any such firearm or firearm component. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a fine of up to $150,000, a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, or both. A person found guilty is subject to a mandatory minimum term of parole ineligibility for five years and would be ineligible for participation in any program of intensive supervision.

Certain companies have developed the technology to produce plastic firearms and firearm components which can be manufactured by downloading computer blueprints that mold three-dimensional items from melted plastic. These undetectable firearms serve as a threat to the general public safety and to national security.