SAF statement in response to news that 700 NJ police officers are quarantined after testing positive

[old lady new shooter]

Published reports that some 700 New Jersey police officers have tested positive for the coronavirus and are quarantined underscores the importance of the Second Amendment Foundation’s lawsuit to require the state to open gun stores, the group said today.

“This is exactly why the Foundation lawsuit to force New Jersey to re-open gun stores during this emergency is so important,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “People need to be able to obtain the means of self-defense in times such as these. This is why the right to keep and bear arms is essential.”

The revelation by acting State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan came Saturday during a daily press briefing on the COVID-19 outbreak.

“This stunning report should surprise nobody,” Gottlieb said, “because police interact daily with scores, if not hundreds of people. It would defy odds if none became infected, and assurances by the authorities that they still have the manpower to respond to emergencies don’t mean much to people when crimes are happening right now and police are several minutes, or longer, away.

“Gov. Phil Murphy needs to understand the Second Amendment wasn’t written for duck hunters,” he observed. “The right to keep and bear arms is enshrined in the Constitution to assure every citizen has the means to defend himself or herself when help may not arrive in time, or maybe not arrive at all.

“We’re praying for the quick recovery of all those stricken Garden State police officers,” Gottlieb said, “and hoping for the safety and good health of all men and women in law enforcement. But in the meantime, we will press our lawsuit to assure that all citizens can defend themselves and their families during this time of crisis.

“Phil Murphy has around-the-clock protection,” Gottlieb noted, “but average citizens do not enjoy that luxury. The governor needs to lift his closure order now, and we will press our lawsuit to make sure he does.”

 

[unclenunzie]

Life member of SAF, myself. Ah, my old home state. But even if the stores were allowed to be open, it won't help the first-time gun buyer who needs to defend their home now, or even soon.

The state requires you to have a New Jersey Firearms Purchaser ID card for long gun or any ammo purchases in the state. Or, for pistols, a Permit to Purchase Handgun, one for every pistol purchased, 30 days apart. The process to obtain these generally takes weeks at best or even months depending on which town you live in.

The requirements for said FPID card or PP are the same - application, fingerprinting, criminal background check, mental health records check, at least TWO NJ residents who will fill out a mail-in-only form attesting to the fact you are not a drunkard, criminal, or otherwise unsafe to own a firearm (no relatives or police officers allowed to attest). And yes, the police actually call or visit to verify.

And then, despite no state law allowing or proscribing this, many towns including my former town silently require you to show up at the police station and talk to the detective in charge of processing your application. If you don't, your application will sit unprocessed even though state law requires 90 day processing. I was told about this by someone who knew about this and recommended I "show my face" at the station, which I did after weeks hearing nothing about my applications. It was clear they were doing a 2 minute interview to make sure you didn't give them a bad feeling. Finally, the local chief of police must sign every permit/ID card.

I worry about my sister, who is both not healthy and is unable to defend herself. Her husband certainly could for both of them, but she doesn't allow guns in the house.