fpc firearms policy coalition

Gotta love good news! Firearm Policy Coalition won a solid first step fighting back New Jersey law that made it effectively impossible to carry a concealed firearm in public, even with a license. FPC’s press release follows . . .

FPC WIN: Court Issues Preliminary Injunction in FPC Case Against New Jersey Restrictions on Bearing Arms
CAMDEN, NJ (May 16, 2023) – Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the successful acquisition of a preliminary injunction against multiple aspects of the New Jersey gun control law passed to severely restrict the ability of those with carry permits from actually being able to carry in public. The opinion in FPC’s Koons v. Platkin, along with other case documents, can be viewed at FPCLaw.org.
“Bruen required the State to bring its firearm laws in compliance with the Second Amendment,” wrote District Court Judge Renee Bumb in her opinion. “Chapter 131 was the State’s response, but it went too far, becoming the kind of law that Founding Father Thomas Jefferson would have warned against since it ‘disarm[s] only those who are not inclined or determined to commit crimes [and] worsen[s] the plight of the assaulted, but improve[s] those of the assailants.’”
Cumulatively, the challenged statutes functioned as an effective prohibition against carrying handguns for self-defense outside the home, even with a permit.
“FPC is thrilled with today’s outcome,” said FPC Director of Legal Operations Bill Sack. “New Jersey lawmakers appear intent on continuing to thumb their noses at the mandates of  the Constitution but today the Court issued a resounding ‘No.’”
FPC is joined in the litigation by Second Amendment Foundation, Coalition of New Jersey Firearms Owners, and New Jersey Second Amendment Society.
Individuals who would like to Join the FPC Grassroots Army and support important pro-rights lawsuits and programs can sign up at JoinFPC.org. Individuals and organizations wanting to support charitable efforts in support of the restoration of Second Amendment and other natural rights can also make a tax-deductible donation to the FPC Action Foundation. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.
Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. FPC’s efforts are focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and adjacent issues including freedom of speech, due process, unlawful searches and seizures, separation of powers, asset forfeitures, privacy, encryption, and limited government. The FPC team are next-generation advocates working to achieve the Organization’s strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs.
FPC Law (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s first and largest public interest legal team focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the leader in the Second Amendment litigation and research space.

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26 COMMENTS

  1. Anyone want to bet that the NJ Governor will demand continued enforcement during the appeals?

  2. The Passaic has 5 legged frogs in it.
    Stay away from New Jersey it’s not a garden state anymore.
    Besides I cant speak Iranian, so how can I order an everything bagel?

  3. Despite this tiny and probably temporary victory, New Jersey is still — more than ever — the state where gun rights go to die. My wife and I are counting the months until we can retire and leave this godforsaken state.
    You’ve all heard of jailbait, right? What’s jailbait in New Jersey is gun ownership!
    It’s impossible to be a New Jersey gun owner without violating several felony laws, some of them brand-new laws unknown to the average citizen, as NJ gun laws here are constantly changing, and always for the worse!
    Whoever coined that saying, “The average American commits three felonies per day” was probably thinking of New Jersey gun owners, who despite trying our best to be law-abiding, may fall into one of thousands of legal traps that New Jersey set up for gun owners.
    For example, having a car accident or other emergency on the way home from the gun range that causes us to deviate from our direct route while having an unloaded gun locked in the trunk, that’s grounds for arrest in New Jersey! Sure you can, at your trial, attempt to plead necessity, but the reality is that rather than take your chances before a jury of left-wing gun-haters, the innocent gun owner (guilty only of having an emergency on the way home) is forced to plead guilty to avoid prison time.

    • A crazy state in a crazy state. Posts like yours make me so proud to be a Tennessean. We have our insufferable blue dots to be sure (and the blue man group, “Tennessee Three”), but overall there’s a rational mindset when it comes to Constitutional rights. You’ll find liberty and welcome if you chose your destination state wisely.

    • Stuck,

      Two points:

      One – NJ is certainly right up there in the race – along with CA, MA, NY, IL, and several others.

      Two – GTFO of that place. I LOVE California – a beautiful state, with the worst government you can imagine. I’ll go back if, as, and when the liberals all die of terminal stupidity (and they’re in the process, just look at the wildfires, rolling blackouts, and catastrophic loss of business and population). GTFO of Joisey.

      • Yeah, I’m stuck in PRoNJ as well, even sling shots are considered firearms and regulated and you need to transfer BB guns, wish I was kidding.
        When these clowns have their laws struck down, they’ll reword it and run it through again. Wash, rinse, repeat.

  4. It’s a double edged sword where one edge blocks a Gun Control scheme while the other edge provides standing for permits.

    To ask a court to allow permitted people to defend themselves leaves law abiding citizens without a permit defenseless and food for wolves. Going along with permits in an effort to win over a court is Discrimation against citizens without a permit.

    Apparently when push comes to shove in a court some people forget a Concealed Carry Permit is the State Taking a Right form the Citizenry and Selling it back to them. No reason to bow, no reason to shelve citizens without a permit, no reason to be ashamed of being Constitutionally Correct especially when the Gun Controlagenda of opposing side other sideagenda

    • …when the Gun Control agenda of the opposing side is rooted in racism and genocide…Copy and paste malfunction:)

      • It is so irritating that you say the same thing every single time.
        That was an interesting comment, but you had to do your usual at the very end

    • Debbie,

      And here’s where you prove what a sensible commenter you COULD be:

      “Apparently when push comes to shove in a court some people forget a Concealed Carry Permit is the State Taking a Right form the Citizenry and Selling it back to them.”

      Yep. It’s a scam, and “they” know it, but as long as we remain good little drones and follow their (unconstitutional) rules, they’ll keep the scam going. Why should they change? NY, CA, NJ, MA, PA, and IL have all passed laws that INTENTIONALLY thumbed their noses at the clear ruling in Bruen – because they know it will take years to get a case through to overturn their fascism.

      Do not comply.

  5. I shifted my donations from the NRA to the FPC a couple of years ago. I like the aggressive stance FPC takes on almost every gun control issue. NRA is a good organization with fine history; but in its current state, the NRA has 1) too much baggage with WLP; and 2) lost the will to do serious political battle.

    • … same here, and our gunclub no longer forces a NRA membership. Good things coming from FPC, I hope they’ll take on Mn.next, where the dfl controlled everything just passed red flag laws and private transfer BGCs… no action taken on charging the criminals responsible for the “gun violence”
      however

  6. “I shifted my donations from the NRA to the FPC a couple of years ago.”

    But, of course it was Bruen, which was primarily funded and run by NRA over a long period of court battles that made FPCs suit possible. And before the ink is dry on this “win”, it will be appealed by NJ and no one will have gained/regained anything despite “the win”.

    The case to really watch will be ”Bruen II” which has already been initiated by NRA, again via NYSRPA, which seeks and demands enforcement of Bruen. Again, a long-term process, as was Bruen and there’s no way FPC on its own could run and fund it.

    Good job, FPC, but I’m betting the “victory” is very short-lived. Long term, it’ll be an eventual victory for NRA or no one, despite those with little understanding of law and the courts who “won’t contribute a dime”…

    • 2nd circuit level ruling “should” come down within a month or so on that one. Then we have SAFE challenge 2 a few months behind in the process.

    • Want to guess the multiple of how much more the NRA spends on non-gun related outside counsel per month than it spent on the entirety of Bruen? Here’s a hint, they pay Bill Brewer III $4M+ a month to try to keep Wayne & Co out of jail.

      • You still work a horse for what you can get before you take it out back and shoot it.

  7. There is a simple and straight forward solution for all the gun grabbers wet dreams. However they would never accept it. Allow anyone who wants to and can afford to purchase it, carry whatever weapon they so choose.
    But, if a crime of violence is committed, the perpetrator is sent to prison for a nice long time. Should the crime result in death of a victim, the perp is executed after a limited appeals process.
    And drop the minor possession or other minor felony charges back to misdemeanors. No point of a minor mutual combat fist fight or a joint being a 5 year felony charge.
    Include violent sexual assault or child molestation under death penalty as well.

  8. “…preliminary injunction against multiple aspects of the New Jersey gun control law passed to severely restrict the ability of those with carry permits from actually being able to carry in public.”

    It is important to note that the opinion is 238pgs long, and permits “good character” assessment of applicants. The judge decided that “Bruen” allows even shall issue states to set vague restrictions on issuing carry permits.

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