Local police respond to the state’s gun reform bill
Sussex County. Straus News asked local police officials to tell us what they like most about the new gun reform legislation, and what parts will be the toughest for their departments to implement. Here are their responses:
| 02 Sep 2022 | 03:21
Sparta Chief Neil Spidaletto
Vernon Police Chief Dan Young
Sparta Police Lieutenant Jeff McCarrick
Sparta Detective Sergeant Thomas Snyder
What benefits do you see in the new gun safety regulations?
“We find that certain aspects related to the new laws are beneficial, such as requiring a photo on the firearms identification card and the registering of handguns when moving to New Jersey.
“Having citizens with no prior experience regarding handling firearms gaining a working knowledge related to gun safety is always a good thing.
“When speaking about registration of a handgun by a person from another state moving to our state, the question of handgun accountability [registering] comes into play. Having knowledge that a handgun is present during an incident will help keep our citizens safe as well as our officers.”
- Sparta Police Department Chief Neil Spidaletto, Detective Sergeant Thomas Snyder and Lieutenant Jeff McCarrick
“As with any legislative change, law enforcement agencies must adjust and adapt to new laws. It could take months or and even sometimes years for society to see if a piece of legislation has the desired effect of an enacted law by their elected officials.”
- Vernon Police Chief Daniel B. Young
What part of the new gun regulations will be the hardest to implement ?
“With any change, we receive a lot of questions. I wouldn’t say it’s a hindrance, but trying to get back to everyone to answer questions has created a lot more work on personnel.”
- Sparta Police Department Chief Neil Spidaletto
“The biggest hindrance/hard to implement parts of the new gun regulations will be for the State of New Jersey to educate new incoming residents from out of state about recent changes. [The legislation] A1179/S1204 requires firearm owners who become New Jersey residents to obtain a firearm purchaser identification card and register their handguns that were acquired from out-of-state; this is a big change from the former voluntary registration.”
- Vernon Police Chief Daniel B. Young
“We have received a large increase in firearm-related questions, as well as applications for new firearm ID cards regarding the new gun laws. This has caused additional work for personnel as they are responding to each citizen’s question as well as continuing to process background checks for firearms applications in a timely manner.”
- Sparta Police Detective Sergeant Thomas Snyder
Governor Phil Murphy signed seven new bills into law on July 5 as part of New Jersey’s Gun Safety Package 3.0:
• Bill A1765/S1893 allows the N.J. Attorney General to sue gun manufacturers for public nuisance violations arising from the sale or marketing of firearms. The bill is similar to a New York law enacted to hold gun manufacturers accountable for creating conditions that pose a threat to public safety.
• Bill A1179/S1204 requires firearm owners who become New Jersey residents to obtain firearm purchaser identification cards and register handguns acquired out-of-state.
• Bill A4367/S2846 upgrades purchasing firearm parts to manufacture a firearm without a serial number, manufacturing a firearm with a three-dimensional printer, manufacturing a covert or undetectable firearm, and transporting a manufactured firearm without a serial number from third-degree crimes to second-degree crimes. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both.
• Bill A4366/S2905 revises the definition of a “destructive device” to include certain .50 caliber rifles, thus banning them in the state.
• Bill A1302/S2903 regulates the sale of handgun ammunition and implements an electronic system for the state to track ammunition sales.
• Bill A4370/S2906 requires individuals to complete a training safety course in order to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card and a permit to purchase a handgun. Firearms purchaser identification cards need to be renewed every 10 years.
• Bill A4368/S2907 will require firearm retailers to sell “microstamping firearms” when the technology is available, per the attorney general. Microstamping firearms print a unique code that identifies the gun’s make, model, and serial number on each ammunition cartridge .