New Jersey has a ghost gun law that has been in place since its enaction in 2018. It was last updated in 2019. The latest ideation of the law makes it illegal for anyone to sell, dispose of, transfer, ship or possess, assemble, use or manufacture a firearm or frame that doesn’t have a licensed manufacturer’s serial number as registered with the federal government.
Law enforcement took three men into custody for transporting ghost guns in August. One of them was a New Jersey resident who’s now facing serious weapons charges.
What are ghost guns?
Ghost guns are a relatively new phenomenon, and police have only begun finding effective approaches for cracking down on their use or circulation. These firearms are produced using 3-D printers. Consumers will typically buy the blueprints for the guns online as “kits.” They’ll then use the instructions provided, along with a frame that they purchase online, to assemble the weapon in the comfort of their own home.
Why is law enforcement aggressive in prosecuting ghost gun peddlers?
Law enforcement is tracking down individuals selling and distributing these kits in recent years in the hope of curbing crime (and, more specifically, untraceable ones).
Since consumers purchase the components to build the gun, there are no background and mental health checks pre-purchase. Also, since these guns don’t feature serial numbers (since registered manufacturers don’t produce them), tracking down who might have committed a crime when the weapon is used proves even more challenging, if not impossible.
What should you do if you’re facing firearms charges?
New Jersey has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. In the case of the New Jersey resident arrested in August for possessing ghost guns, he was indicted on five gun-related charges, including possession of a firearm without a serial number and another tied to purchasing gun parts to manufacture an untraceable weapon.
Don’t take your chances if you’re facing such charges. Learn more about your rights, including how to build a solid defense.
