Houghtaling, Downey Prohibit Sale and Possession of Bump Stocks

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey to prohibit the sale and possession of a firearm accessory used in the massacre in Las Vegas was approved 69-0 Monday by the Assembly, giving it final legislative approval.

The bill now goes to the governor.

The bill would amend state law regarding destructive devices - a list that already includes sawed-off shotguns and silencers - to make the sale or possession of "bump stocks" a third-degree criminal offense in New Jersey. The bill also clarifies that a firearm affixed with a bump stock constitutes an assault weapon and a firearm affixed with a trigger crank constitutes a machine gun.

Under the bill, individuals would be able to voluntarily surrender any bump stock or trigger crank in their possession to a law enforcement agency within 90 days of the bill’s effective date. Licensed manufacturers and retailers would have 30 days to voluntarily surrender these items.

"Bump stocks essentially turn a legal firearm into an illegal firearm," said Houghtaling (D-Monmouth). "Amending the law to ban them simply would close a loophole that endangers the people of New Jersey."

"When fully automatic weapons have been banned for decades, it follows that a device used to inflict the same degree of bloodshed also should be off the market," said Downey (D-Monmouth). "This is sensible action that will rectify an oversight in the law and save lives."