With the announcement that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed portions of New Jersey’s “sensitive places” law to remain partially in force while the case is appealed, the Second Amendment Law Center has launched an amicus brief campaign to support this case as it moves forward. Briefs are due in the next couple of weeks. The law creates gun free zones throughout the state even for those with a carry permit.
US District Court Judge Renée Marie Bumb had blocked much of the state’s sensitive places from taking effect, meaning that permit holders could still carry in areas where New Jersey law sought to prohibit them.
The 2-1 appeals court ruling kept in place the state law’s ban on carrying firearms within 100 feet of public gatherings, and at a range of other locations, including zoos, public parks and beaches, public transportation, entertainment venues, casinos, libraries, entertainment facilities, and anywhere alcohol is served.
Other parts of the law are still blocked. The law bans carrying guns in cars, on movie sets, or even any private property open to the public unless the owner posts a sign saying guns are allowed, but those provisions are still blocked - for now. The ban on guns on private property open to the public unless a “Guns Allowed” sign is posted, could practically eliminate the right to carry even with a permit. Permit holders might be able to avoid parks and libraries, but can’t avoid private businesses open to the public.
“The Supreme Court in Bruen was crystal clear in prohibiting this ‘not here, not there, not anywhere’ approach,” noted 2ALC President and Senior Legal Counsel Chuck Michel. “States like New Jersey that are pushing forward with sweeping “sensitive places” laws are simply wasting their time, not to mention their taxpayers’ money, in an effort to get around the Supreme Court’s clear mandate.”
Amicus briefs play a critical role in legal challenges like this, providing legal research and historical perspective that help frame how a court views the issues under consideration. Attorneys for the parties in the case, however, are prohibited from coordinating the submission of such briefs. The Second Amendment Law Center, backed by our esteemed Board of Advisors, fills this role to ensure that key 2A legal challenges across the country are supported by the best possible legal research.
If laws like New Jersey’s are allowed to stand ANYWHERE, they will spread EVERYWHERE! We need your help to fund the amicus campaign and stop the madness in New Jersey!