Federal Court Declares New Jersey Gun Control Laws Unconstitutional
A federal appeals court has invalidated New Jersey’s bans on assault firearms and magazines holding more than ten rounds. This marks the first instance where a federal appeals court has struck down state-level prohibitions on these weapons amidst the U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming deliberation on the Second Amendment’s stance on semiautomatic rifles.
The decision in New Jersey contrasts with a recent ruling by another federal appeals court that upheld Illinois’ prohibition of semiautomatic firearms. In New Jersey, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared that the bans deemed unconstitutional apply to all semiautomatic rifles labeled as “assault firearms” and to restrictions on “large capacity ammunition magazines.”
The ruling surpasses a previous decision from July 2024, where a federal judge found New Jersey’s ban on AR-15s unconstitutional but maintained the constraints on larger magazines.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport criticized the court’s decision, asserting it is “legally incorrect” and “unfortunate.” She noted that other federal circuit courts have upheld similar laws. Davenport highlighted the role of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines in mass shootings and expressed New Jersey’s intent to pursue options moving forward.
John Commerford from the National Rifle Association hailed the ruling as a “historic victory” for the NRA, the Second Amendment, and responsible gun owners. Currently, New Jersey and ten other states, along with the District of Columbia, enforce laws limiting the manufacture, sale, and transfer of assault weapons, as documented by the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Adam Winkler, a law professor at UCLA, remarked on the surprise of the decision due to previous appellate court endorsements of assault weapons bans. He suggested the ruling might predict the Supreme Court’s upcoming stance on these laws. Winkler stated current gun laws face heightened uncertainty about being invalidated.
Kelety provided further reporting from Phoenix.