VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY IN THE COURTS: Third Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds New Jersey Law Keeping Guns Out of Parks, Playgrounds, Bars and Other Sensitive Places

NEW YORK – In a victory for gun safety, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling today broadly upholding key aspects of New Jersey’s law prohibiting guns in sensitive places. In doing so, the Third Circuit largely rejected an extreme challenge brought by the New Jersey affiliate of the National Rifle Association, the Firearms Policy Coalition, and others. The Third Circuit’s decision further confirms that common sense gun safety policies regulating the presence of firearms in sensitive places are constitutional.

“Today’s decision is yet another blow for the gun lobby as a federal appeals court once again confirmed that keeping guns out of sensitive places like parks, playgrounds, and public transit is absolutely consistent with the Second Amendment,” said Janet Carter, managing director of second amendment litigation at Everytown Law. “It’s another clear signal that attempts to undermine public safety are as baseless as they are reckless.”

“I am thrilled that the Third Circuit has correctly upheld nearly the entirety of New Jersey’s sensitive places law, which protects our residents from the threat of firearms in sensitive public places across the State. Although the gun lobby has repeatedly claimed they have a right to carry a gun, hidden from view, into schools and playgrounds, beaches and libraries, bars and concert venues, among other places — they are wrong and the Third Circuit correctly rejected this challenge as going way beyond what the Second Amendment requires,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin. “We were proud to defend this critical public-safety law, and to successfully keep our residents, children, and law enforcement officers safe from the scourge of firearms violence.”

In the aftermath of the flawed Supreme Court decision in Bruen, volunteers with Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action called on their elected officials to pass legislation that would address the new dangers to gun safety resulting from that decision. Gun-sense legislators in New Jersey took action and enacted legislation that strengthens the standards and requirements for obtaining a concealed-carry permit in New Jersey. They also established a list of locations where guns cannot be carried, including bars and restaurants where alcohol is served; schools, colleges and universities; daycare and childcare facilities; stadiums and amusement parks; polling places, courthouses and protests; playgrounds and youth sports events; and public parks, beaches, and recreational facilities. Gun-lobby groups and individuals immediately challenged the law.

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