New Jersey lawmakers weigh gun laws after court setbacks

Spokespeople for legislative leaders indicated that Democrats are considering various paths forward without providing specific details. A Senate Democratic spokesperson stated, "The Senate is reviewing the court’s decision and evaluating all available legislative and legal options to preserve effective, commonsense gun safety measures."

Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald has proposed a specific bill, A3560, which has been pending since 2021. This bill would mandate that gun owners store their firearms unloaded and locked inside their homes, with penalties for non-compliance. Greenwald told POLITICO that the bill is "the next thing I’m looking to do" on gun safety, citing improper storage as a major cause of home injuries.

Democrats face challenges as many desired regulations, such as assault weapons bans and concealed carry restrictions, have already been struck down by courts. State Senator Andrew Zwicker noted the uncertainty surrounding what new laws the legislature can pass given the federal rulings. "What the Legislature can do given this ruling, that’s unclear — and needs to be worked through," Zwicker said. "When you have a federal ruling, you have to look at what’s in the state purview."

Any new legislation passed by Democrats is likely to face lawsuits from gun rights groups, potentially returning the state to square one.