Expanding on New Jersey’s nation-leading gun safety laws, Governor Phil Murphy today signed S3150, which establishes strict liability criminal penalties for gun traffickers when an illegally trafficked firearm provided by them is used in a crime that results in serious or significant bodily injury or death.
Under the first-in-the-nation legislation, also known as the “Real Accountability for Consequences of Unlawful Trafficking of Firearms Act,” a trafficked firearm used for a crime resulting in a death may be charged with a first-degree crime. Similarly, a person who commits a firearm trafficking violation resulting in serious or significant bodily injury may be charged with a second-degree crime. The bill will also allow New Jersey prosecutors to charge out-of-state traffickers, who have supplied around 80% of guns used for crimes in our state, for the harms their illegal out-of-state conduct causes in New Jersey.
The legislation is modeled on similar, longstanding laws that impose strict criminal liability on drug dealers for overdose deaths caused by their illicit products.
“Far too many New Jerseyans live with the daily fear that people in their communities who cannot legally possess guns can illegally obtain firearms and cause great harm,” said Governor Murphy. “This bill allows us to hold those who illegally traffic those guns accountable for the harm that those weapons are used to cause. With today’s new law, New Jersey will become the first state in the nation to go after illegal gun traffickers in this way. This is yet another historic step to protect our children and families from gun violence, and we will continue to support long-term solutions that will break the cycle of violence once and for all.”
Holding lawbreakers accountable is a much more preferable way to curb gun violence than taking away rights from law abiding citizens.
It will be difficult to enforce though.
They free the criminals who use the guns to commit more crimes anyway so what is the point?
Is the murderer held accountable for the murder, or can he blame it on the one who sold him the gun and get away scott free? Does anyone else see something wrong with this?!
What if law abiding citizens had guns and could defend innocent people by threatening the criminals with instant “neutralization”? That works in other countries against terror attacks-many people were saved like this. One Florida county offered gun classes so that people can defend themselves, and they announced that it was legal and encouraged to defend yourself and knock out a threatening criminal. Where would you feel safer, in a state that doesnt let citizens own guns and you have to wait for the police to come ( the criminal will wait for the police before shooting?) or in a state where there are numerous people all around you ready to defend you on the spot?
Maybe instead we could legally encourage law abiding citizens to obtain firearms training and concealed carry permits. Studies show that legal concealed carry reduces crime across all areas and that well trained citizens rarely commit crimes or have firearms accidents.
I did not object to a mandatory hunter education class, required to obtain a hunting license, which emphasised firearm safety. They have been proven to reduce accidents. But the powers that be are not looking to reduce injury and deaths. Their agenda is to eliminate private firearm ownership. That side of the political spectrum does not believe in holding individuals responsible for their actions or failures in their lives. The blame is always deflected elsewhere.