Second Amendment Foundation Tells New Jersey What Exit to Get Off
Exit here for some of the worst gun laws in the country!
The Second Amendment Foundation just filed a federal lawsuit against the state of New Jersey. Called Kendrick v. Grewal, the suit challenges the state’s incredibly restrictive gun laws. As we’ve mentioned before here at Guns & Gadgets Daily, bad gun laws kill good people. And although the list of people whose lives ended prematurely–and senselessly–is very long, today SAF is listing just one: Carol Bowne. Before we discuss the lawsuit further, let’s hear her story:
Carol Bowne was a law-abiding citizen with just one problem: poor taste in men. She had broken up with her boyfriend, but he had decided that if he couldn’t have her, nobody could. Bowne knew she was in danger. Her boyfriend, who was physically abusive, had already violated Bowne’s restraining order multiple times. Bowne knew that the restraining order, though legally important, certainly couldn’t stop him. So she also applied for a pistol permit…and then she waited.
And waited. And waited. New Jersey doesn’t just believe in waiting periods; they worship them. While Bowne waited, she begged her local law enforcement to help her, but was turned down multiple times due to lack of manpower. In this period, Bowne discovered something alarming: The police have no obligation to protect you. “Protect and serve” is a slogan, and it’s a nice one, but as the Supreme Court has noted, that’s not really their job. Their job is to come in after the crime happens, clean it up, and arrest whoever’s responsible.
And after Bowne’s ex-boyfriend murdered her in her driveway while she was still waiting for that permit, the police did that job. Now it’s the Second Amendment Foundation’s turn to do theirs.
SAF’s suit challenges the constitutionality of the state’s restrictive gun laws, alleging in a 28-page complaint that “New Jersey laws…unconstitutionally restrict the acquisition of firearms.”
SAF is joined by the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, Inc., the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, the Coalition of New Jersey Firearms Owners, the Firearms Policy Coalition, Bob’s Little Sport Shop, Inc., and three private citizens. They are represented by attorneys David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson and Joseph O. Masterman at Cooper & Kirk, PLLC in Washington, D.C., Daniel L. Schmutter at Hartman & Winnicki, P.C. in Ridgewood, N.J. and David D. Jensen at David Jensen & Associates, Beacon, N.Y.
“This legal action has been a long time coming, ever since Carol Bowne of Berlin Township was murdered in her own driveway in 2015 while waiting for her firearm permit to be processed,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “The hoops one must go through and waits one must endure, plus the fees attached has resulted in a complicated process that delays approval far beyond what existing state law allows.
“As we note in our lawsuit,” he continued, “such restrictions on firearm acquisition are unconstitutional on their face. No Garden State resident should be subjected to this kind of bureaucratic harassment. The idea that a law-abiding citizen must first obtain government permission before exercising a constitutionally-enumerated fundamental right is simply hostile to the right to keep and bear arms.”
SAF and its partners are asking the court to declare the provisions of current New Jersey statutes requiring citizens to obtain an identification card or permit in order to acquire a firearm are unconstitutional. They want an injunction prohibiting the defendants from enforcing those provisions and any related laws or regulations.
Named as defendants in the complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, are New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, State Police Supt. Patrick J. Callahan, Bridgeton Police Chief Michael Giamari, Harrison Township Police Chief Ronald A. Cundey and Glassboro Police Chief John Polillo, in their official capacities.
For more, check out the Second Amendment Foundation’s website!
That’s why I left the Nazi state of NJ more than 40 years ago for the free state of Texas and never looked back !
Purchasing a firearm in NJ is a daunting task. Forget about getting a permit to carry.
This story is tragic! This women most likely would’ve been a live today had there not been so many lega hurdles. She should have been given the 2nd amendment right without the long delays in the process.
2nd amendment rights are not to be restricted, all the laws restricting your rights are illegal !
Say, isn’t New Jersey the headquarters of the mob? I wonder how many of the politicians have them for friends and fund raising? Do you think New Jersey illegal gun laws stop the mob?
Isn’t New Jersey a country off the coast of North Korea and is run by power crazed politicians who want to enslave its citizens?
The politicians say “you will comply, resistance is futile. You are to become new world order slaves and we are your masters!”
the HQ for the mob is in NY and if you doubt me my cousins will pay you a visit LOL
the mob arre those who don’t believe in the 2nd amendment.
I had a friend who was in a similar situation. She was approved to have a gun and it saved her life! Her psycho ex-boyfriend came for her with pipe bombs. Walked right on through the restraining order she had and came into her home. He’s dead & she’s alive.
Just what did you expect from a socialist liberal communist run state where the governor thinks he id god and king. I feel sorry of all the good citizens who are not “ALLOWED” to be able to defend themselves when they need to. I left that communist state long ago but have relatives and many friends who are actually in fear for their and their families well being due to the OBNOXIOUS way the state is run. This state has become a truly dictator run state by the greedy money and power hungry idiots.
My comments are awaiting moderation, WHY? This is an example of discrimination and violates my 1st amendment rights, but this is the MSM protecting their precious income.
Comments awaiting moderation does not violate your first amendment rights. Your first amendment rights don’t apply to a private company’s website. Also, a pro-gun website is hardly MSM. And I’m not sure why you think the website would think that their precious income would need protection from your comments seeing as how you’re agreeing with the article which was also denouncing the state’s anti-2A politics.
If it saves one life…..who’s life do they mean and how many others must die to do that?
I live in the wonderful land of New Jersey. My last few pistol permits took no more than 3 weeks. And this was during COVID, which is shockingly fast. But yes, NJ is a terrible state for gun rights.
3 months is the typical wait for a handgun purchase permit.
And in those 3 weeks, if you had an abusive person after you, you’d be dead, that’s the point! I live in Delaware right below Jersey and can purchase a firearm and, nics willing, walk out with it and a box of ammo the same day. That’s the difference.
“All laws which are repugnant to the Constitution are null and void.”
Marbury v. Madison, 5 US (2 Cranch) 137, 174, 176 (1803)
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/5/137/
re•pug•nant. rĭ-pŭg′nənt►
adj. Arousing disgust or aversion; offensive or repulsive.
adj. Contradictory; inconsistent.
Opposing; resisting; refractory; disposed to oppose or antagonize
“No state shall convert a liberty into a license and charge a fee therefore.”
Murdock v. Pennsylvania, 319 US 105
“If the state converts a right (liberty) into a privilege, the citizen can ignore the license and fee and engage in the right (liberty) with impunity.”
Shuttleworth v. City of Birmingham, Alabama, 373 US 262
New Jersey has been suppressing Second Amendment Rights of it’s citizens for years. Sadly it took Carol Bowne losing her life to get a lawsuit started against the Nazis in state goverment who are preventing lawful citizens from exercising their Constitutional Rights.
This is a sad thing! They should also listed every anti- gun people name in the LAWSUIT even the governor. These dumb people have no idea what one evil PERSON is cable of! Only think they will not be a victim! Try that one day! Put a no gun zone sign in your yard where everybody can see it! I will promise you that you will regret your STUPID! Either you or a family member will be kill before the LIBERAL COPS SHOW UP! He got to finish his six pack of donuts first!