State · NJ
New Jersey gun laws
Here's a plain-language look at New Jersey's own firearm laws, topic by topic. Federal law applies here too, so it's worth reading the federal page alongside this one. City and county rules aren't covered, and some places have stricter ones.
At a glance: Permit needed to carry concealed · magazine limit (10 rounds) · “assault weapon” ban
Recently changed or in flux
- In courtThe full 3rd Circuit struck down the assault weapon ban and 10-round limit (July 2026) but stayed its mandate, so both remain enforceable until the Supreme Court acts. There's a high chance of change in 2027.
Permit to purchase#
- Handguns
- Yes. You need a Permit to Purchase a Handgun for each handgun (plus an FPIC), and there's a limit of one handgun per 30 days, with exceptions.
- Long guns
- Yes. Long-gun buyers need a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card (FPIC).
Registration#
- In practice, yes for handguns (through permit records); 'assault weapons' owned before 1990 had to be registered.
Carrying a handgun#
- Permitless carry
- No.
- Concealed carry permit
- Shall-issue after Bruen (Chapter 131, 2022), with a long list of sensitive places; litigation is ongoing (Koons/Siegel).
- Open carry
- No. Even with a carry permit, you must carry your handgun concealed in a holster; open carry is a crime, with an exception for brief, accidental exposure (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4(a); N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.5(b)).
- Reciprocity
- Doesn't honor other states' carry permits; visitors need a nonresident permit, where one is available.
“Assault weapon” rules#
- Yes, but the en banc 3rd Circuit (the full court) held the ban unconstitutional on July 17, 2026. The court stayed its ruling (Aug. 4, 2026) while Supreme Court review is pending, so the ban REMAINS ENFORCEABLE for now. NJ's petition (No. 26-452) was filed Oct. 1, 2026.
Magazine limits#
- 10 rounds. The same 3rd Circuit ruling and stay apply, so the limit remains enforceable.
Waiting period#
- For handguns, a dealer can't hand over the gun until at least 7 days after you applied for your Permit to Purchase a Handgun (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-2(a)(5)(a)). Police must decide a complete permit or FPIC application within 30 days for residents and 45 days for nonresidents, and a handgun permit is good for 90 days (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3(f)). There's no separate waiting period for long guns.
Background checks and private sales#
- Yes, universal.
Red flag (ERPO) law#
- Yes.
Suppressors, SBRs and SBSs#
- Suppressors
- Prohibited.
- Short-barreled rifles and shotguns
- Prohibited without special licensing.
About the October 2026 federal NFA change
On October 9, 2026, ATF said it will stop enforcing the NFA's approval and registration requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and AOWs. New Jersey's own restrictions on suppressors and short-barreled rifles and shotguns still apply. ATF's federal non-enforcement policy doesn't change state law.
Ammunition#
- Yes. Buying handgun ammunition requires an FPIC, permit or carry license, and there are limits on possessing hollow-point ammunition outside your home or the range.
Minimum ages#
- Handgun purchase
- 21
- Long gun purchase
- 18 (with an FPIC).
Shipping and buying online#
- Handgun ammunition can only be sold to buyers with NJ credentials, so many sellers ask for documentation or won't ship. Magazines over 10 rounds and 'assault weapons' can't be sold to NJ residents (while the stay remains), and hollow-point rules apply.
Buying a firearm online means it ships to a licensed dealer, who completes the transfer. Find one near you in the Dealer Finder. Retailers make the final call on what they'll ship, so always check their policy too.
Pending legislation and litigation#
Bills, ballot measures, rules and court cases that could change the rules in New Jersey. We check this list every week; last scan . See everything we're tracking.
Open (2)
S1800: Retailer disclosures about lost or stolen firearms and straw purchases
S1800 · New Jersey Senate
Status:
This bill would require firearm retailers to tell customers that they're responsible for reporting lost or stolen firearms, and that it's unlawful to buy a firearm intending to sell it to someone who is disqualified.
What it would change: Gun stores in New Jersey would have to give buyers these written disclosures.
Status history (1)
- :
Sources:NJ Legislature - committee meeting, Oct. 15, 2026 (S1800) ↗
Added · Last checked
Davenport v. Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs
No. 26-452 · U.S. Supreme Court (cert petition)
Status:
New Jersey is asking the Supreme Court to review the Third Circuit decision that struck down its rifle and magazine bans. Because that decision is on hold, both laws remain enforceable for now.
What it would change: The outcome will decide whether New Jersey's 'assault weapon' ban and 10-round magazine limit survive.
Next key date: Response due,
Status history (2)
- :
- :
Sources:U.S. Supreme Court docket 26-452 ↗NJ Governor statement on the 3rd Circuit decision (July 17, 2026) ↗
Added · Last checked
Recently resolved (1)
United States v. Bost and Williams v. Attorney General (the federal felon ban, 922(g)(1))
Nos. 24-1719 and 24-1091 · U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit (en banc)
Status:
The full Third Circuit, which covers Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the U.S. Virgin Islands, decided two challenges to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1). That's the federal ban on having a gun after a conviction for a crime punishable by more than a year in prison. In Bost, the court upheld the ban for a man convicted of terroristic threats, because a conviction involving a threat of violence shows a risk of misusing guns. In Williams, it held that the lifetime ban couldn't be applied to a man whose disqualifying conviction was a repeat drunk-driving offense, because the government didn't show a historical tradition of permanently disarming people for that kind of conduct.
What it changed: In the Third Circuit, a person whose only disqualifying record is a nonviolent offense like Williams's may be able to challenge the ban as applied to them. It isn't automatic: the felon ban still applies, each person's record matters, and the ban still stands for people with violent convictions like Bost's.
Outcome: Decided Oct. 13, 2026: the ban was upheld as applied to Bost (terroristic threats) and held unconstitutional as applied to Williams (a repeat DUI).
Status history (2)
- :
- :
Sources and official links#
- New Jersey State Police - Firearms · Officialhttps://www.njsp.org/firearms/index.shtml
- NJ Legislature · Officialhttps://www.njleg.state.nj.us/
- Governor statement on 3rd Cir. decision (July 17, 2026) · Officialhttps://www.nj.gov/governor/news/2026/20260717b.shtml
- P.L. 2022, c.131 (carry law, enacted text) · Officialhttps://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2022/PL22/131_.HTM
- A4814 (2026), showing current N.J.S.A. 2C:58-2 text · Officialhttps://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A5000/4814_I1.HTM
New Jersey entry last reviewed . Official state sites can move or change; if a link stops working, search the agency's site for the same title.
Notes that apply everywhere
Federal NFA change (suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, AOWs)
Congress set the federal NFA making and transfer tax to $0 for suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs) and 'any other weapons' effective January 1, 2026 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, 2025). After a federal district court ruling (Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, N.D. Tex., Aug. 5, 2026), ATF published an open letter from Director Robert Cekada, a press release, a fact sheet and an FAQ saying that as of October 9, 2026 it will not enforce the NFA's approval, registration, tax-stamp and related requirements for those four items, for everyone. Machine guns and destructive devices remain fully regulated. The Gun Control Act still applies, including dealer background checks, the prohibited-person rules, and an approved Form 20 to take an SBR or SBS across state lines, and dealers still may not sell in violation of state or local law. ATF says this does not override state or local law. A state that bans these items still bans them. Many state laws make these items legal only if they are 'registered' or 'lawful under federal law', and how those state laws apply to unregistered items is currently unclear. ATF also warns that enforcement could resume if the law, the ruling or DOJ policy changes. Keep this note in mind whenever you read a state's suppressor, SBR or SBS entry.
U.S. Supreme Court 'assault weapon' cases
The Supreme Court granted review (June 30, 2026) in Viramontes v. Cook County (No. 25-238, a Cook County, IL ordinance) and Grant v. Higgins (No. 25-566, Connecticut). The question is whether the Second Amendment protects possession of AR-15-platform rifles. The cases are scheduled for oral argument on December 2, 2026 (not yet argued as of October 15, 2026), and a decision is expected by mid-2027. Magazine-limit petitions (for example Duncan v. Bonta from CA and NAGR v. Lamont from CT) and New Jersey's petition (No. 26-452) were pending as of mid-October 2026. Every state 'assault weapon' and magazine entry could change as a result.
supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗
Wolford v. Lopez (U.S. Supreme Court, June 25, 2026)
The Court struck down Hawaii's rule that licensed carriers may not carry on private property open to the public without the owner's express permission. Similar 'default no-carry on private property' rules in some other states (for example CA, NY, NJ and MD) may be affected. This guide hasn't verified how each state has responded.
Federal minimum ages
Under federal law, licensed dealers may sell handguns only to buyers 21 and older, and long guns only to buyers 18 and older. Federal courts have split on whether the 18-20 handgun-sale restriction is constitutional, and this guide doesn't try to resolve that litigation. State rules on how old minors must be to possess guns aren't fully covered here.
Local ordinances
Many cities and counties (for example Chicago and Cook County, IL; Denver and Boulder, CO; Philadelphia, PA; and New York City) have rules stricter than state law. This guide covers state-level law only.
All states, DC and territories · Federal law
Disclaimer
The firearm law information in Firearms Almanac's Laws & Regulations guide (federal, state and territory) is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Firearm laws change frequently, differ by city and county, and are often affected by court decisions that can take effect with little notice. We try to keep this guide accurate and cite official sources, but we make no guarantee that any entry is complete, current, or correct, and we are not responsible for actions taken based on it. Before buying, selling, carrying, transporting, or shipping any firearm, ammunition, magazine, or accessory, check the current law with the official federal, state or territory source linked on each page and, where appropriate, a qualified attorney. Retailers listed on this site set their own shipping and sales policies and are responsible for complying with the law. Each entry shows the date it was last checked. See also our site Disclaimer.