Gun Rights Advocates Blast New Jersey’s ‘Bump Stock’ Law

If you’re a firearms owner in New Jersey with a “bump stock” or a “trigger crank,” congratulations. You're now a felon, according to a Garden State-based gun rights group.

The Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners was one of several pro-gun rights groups to decry S-3477, which former Governor Chris Christie signed into law on Monday. The law bans the possession or sale of a bump stock, a device designed to attach to a semi-automatic firearm in order to fire shots in rapid succession in a manner that simulates an automatic weapon.

The bill references the Oct. 1, 2017 attack in Las Vegas that killed 58 people and wounded more than 500 others, stating that “according to news reports, the rifles found in the gunman’s hotel room were modified with a bump stock.”

• See related article: Chris Christie Signs 109 Bills Into Law, New Gun Restrictions

The law 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,” according to a statement from its sponsors.

The new law – which takes effect “immediately” - allows individuals to voluntarily surrender any bump stock 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 their bump stocks.

Breaking the law would be a third-degree offense punishable by three to five years in prison. (Read the full bill here)

According to the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners:

• A “bump stock” means any device or instrument for a firearm that increases the rate of fire achievable with the firearm by using energy from the recoil of the firearm to generate a reciprocating action that facilitates repeated activation of the trigger.
• A “trigger crank” means any device or instrument to be attached to a firearm that repeatedly activates the trigger of the firearm through the use of a lever or other part that is turned in a circular motion; provided, however, the term shall not include any weapon initially designed and manufactured to fire through the use of a crank or lever.

Supporters of the new law have charged that it will help protect New Jersey residents against the “killing power of firearms.”

“There is no legitimate use for these devices other than to increase the killing power of the weapons they are designed for,” said State Sen. Loretta Weinberg. “No single law can prevent all the gun violence but we need to use the tragic lessons of these cases to make our communities safer. Keeping these devices out of circulation is an obvious lesson from the Las Vegas tragedy.”

‘CREATING FELONS BASED ON NEWS REPORTS’

Here’s what some gun rights groups in New Jersey had to say about S-3477:

Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners – “If you have a bump stock or a trigger crank, you're now a felon… So now we create felons of law-abiding citizens based on news reports?”

Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs – “The legislation would not make anyone safer and would not change the fact that bump stocks are already prohibited in the Garden State. They would remain prohibited whether the legislation passes or is defeated, so the effort to move the bill appears largely symbolic and calculated to make headlines. Hardware bans are ignored by criminals, and are easily circumvented by those bent on doing evil -- who will not be deterred and will simply find another tool. Only those who follow the law are impacted, which solves nothing. Rushing the bill during the last few days of the Christie Administration, instead of waiting until Governor-elect Phil Murphy takes office, reinforces that gun ban politicians have been frustrated by their defeats over the past eight years and are chomping at the bit to unleash a fresh torrent of attacks on gun owners and sportsmen.”

NRA-ILA Institute For Legislative Action – “S.3477 and A.5200 are the epitome of New Jersey’s failed gun control laws. We’ve seen many instances where New Jersey gun laws are loaded with traps and pitfalls that do nothing but ensnare honest, law-abiding gun owners. New Jersey already has a semi-auto “assault weapons” ban which bans a pistol grip and a telescoping stock, thus constituting a ‘part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert the firearm into an assault firearm...’ S.3477 goes so far as to punish someone with a third-degree crime for ‘disposal’ of a bump stock or trigger crank. Similarly, someone simply transporting the accessory is subject to harsh penalties, meaning a person cannot even drive the object to a local police station or out-of-state without facing ridiculously severe repercussions. A person would also be guilty even without being in possession of a firearm to attach the stock. Again, this bill is clearly not about reducing crime or addressing public safety. The narrow 30-day amnesty period is nothing short of punitive.”

• See related article: Which New Jersey Reps. Voted For Conceal-Carry Gun Bill?

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Image: In this Oct. 4, 2017, file photo, shooting instructor Frankie McRae demonstrates the grip on an AR-15 rifle fitted with a "bump stock" at his 37 PSR Gun Club in Bunnlevel, N.C. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed, File)