FPC Demands Summary Judgment Against New Jersey's One-Gun-Per-Month Law
Firearms Policy Coalition filed a motion for summary judgment in federal court to strike down New Jersey's handgun purchase rationing law, which limits residents to one firearm per month. The legal challenge directly targets the state's restriction on how frequently citizens can lawfully acquire firearms. FPC argues the rule has no historical basis in American law and fails intermediate scrutiny under the Supreme Court's Bruen framework.
Key Details
- New Jersey enforces a one-handgun-per-month purchase cap on all residents and licensed dealers
- FPC contends the rationing scheme lacks historical precedent in American gun law going back centuries
- Summary judgment request seeks to eliminate the restriction without a full trial
- The motion applies Bruen's text, history, and tradition test to strike down the rule as unconstitutional
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
New Jersey gun owners currently cannot legally purchase more than one handgun per month, even if they own firearms legally and pass background checks. This restriction directly impacts shooters who want to expand collections, acquire firearms for different purposes—carry gun, range gun, competition gun—or replace damaged or worn firearms. The rationing creates artificial barriers to lawful acquisition that no other enumerated right faces. If FPC prevails, New Jersey residents regain the ability to purchase multiple firearms within a month. The case also sets precedent for other states considering similar rationing schemes. Gun owners in New Jersey should monitor this case closely; a victory removes a direct barrier to Second Amendment exercise in the state.
DownRange Analysis
The one-gun-per-month rule sits on shaky constitutional ground post-Bruen. New Jersey cannot point to colonial-era or founding-period rationing laws because they didn't exist. Courts applying Bruen have consistently struck down regulations with no historical analog. FPC's summary judgment motion is strategically sound—forcing the state to defend a rule with zero historical pedigree before trial. If the court grants summary judgment, New Jersey faces either appeal or legislative reversal. The state's best argument rests on public safety claims, but Bruen explicitly rejected means-end justifications in favor of text and history. Expect this case to move quickly. Gun owners watching Second Amendment litigation should treat this filing as a strong indicator FPC believes they have a winning argument on the law.
