COVID-19 and the Second Amendment in New Jersey

On March 24, 2020, the Firearms Investigation Unit in New Jersey State Police responded to the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. Its response consisted of issuance of “Guidance and Information” to all New Jersey local police departments. Included in that “Guidance and Information” was the following: However, certain aspects of the process will be limited or suspended completely. If you do not have the capability to complete certain portions of the process, please inform your residents of the limitation.

Now let's look more closely at this doubletalk. New Jersey State Police tells the local police departments that “certain aspect of the process” can be suspended completely. So, suppose “the process” consists of Steps A through R, and the town completely suspends Step M. The fact that Steps A through L, plus Steps N through R, remain functional is meaningless. Since nothing passes Step M, we never reach Step R. The entire process is shut down.

There is a wonderful line from a 1960 movie, The Magnificent Seven: “If God did not mean for them to be shorn, He would not have made them sheep.” Persons wishing to exercise their Second Amendment rights must do more than just wish. They must not play the role of sheep waiting to be shorn. They must do more as individuals. They can also do more as part of an organized group. The FID Delays page on this site guides you through this second “do more.”

The March 24, 2020 Guidance and Information report referenced above is Law Enforcement Sensitive, and Official Use Only. It contains this language:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION NOTICE: This product contains LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE information for situational awareness; it does not establish probable cause to arrest or detain a subject. Recipients should not share any portion of this product outside the law enforcement community, such as the media, the public, or other personnel who do not have a valid need-to-know.

Gun Lawyers in New Jersey™ deplores the suggestion of New Jersey State Police that the public lacks a “valid need-to-know.” It is precisely persons in New Jersey wanting to exercise their Second Amendment rights that, more than anyone, “need to know” how misallocation of resources by New Jersey State Police is thwarting their efforts. We provide that full Law Enforcement Sensitive report to you on this site.