New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Chapter 54 - FIREARMS AND WEAPONS
Subchapter 1 - FIREARMS PURCHASER IDENTIFICATION CARD AND PERMIT TO PURCHASE A HANDGUN
Section 13:54-1.2 - Definitions
The words and terms used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:
"Ammunition" means various projectiles, including bullets, missiles, slugs or balls together with fuses, propelling charges and primers that may be fired, ejected, projected, released, or emitted from firearms or weapons.
"Antique cannon" means any weapon which satisfies the definition of an antique firearm and which is also capable of firing a projectile of a caliber greater than .60 caliber, except a shotgun or shotgun ammunition generally recognized as suitable for sporting purposes.
"Antique firearm" means any firearm, which is incapable of being fired or discharged, or which does not fire fixed ammunition regardless of the date of manufacture, or was manufactured before 1898, for which cartridge ammunition is not commercially available, and is possessed as a curiosity or ornament or for its historical significance or value.
"Assault firearms" means:
1. Any of the following firearms:
Algimec AGM1 type
Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder such as the "Street Sweeper" or "Striker 12"
Armalite AR-180 type
Australian Automatic Arms SAR
Avtomat Kalashnikov type semi-automatic firearms
Beretta AR-70 and BM59 semi-automatic firearms
Bushmaster Assault Rifle
Calico M-900 Assault carbine and M-900
CETME G3
Chartered Industries of Singapore SR-88 type
Colt AR-15 and CAR-15 series
Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1 and Max 2, AR 100 types
Demro TAC-1 carbine type
Encom MP-9 and MP-45 carbine types
FAMAS MAS223 types
FN-FAL, FN-LAR, or FN-FNC type semi-automatic firearms
Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12 shotguns
G3SA type
Galil type
Heckler and Koch HK91, HK93, HK94, MP5, PSG-1
Intratec TEC 9 and 22 semi-automatic firearms
M1 carbine type
M14S type
MAC 10, MAC 11, MAC 11-9 mm carbine type firearms
PJK M-68 carbine type
Plainfield Machine Company Carbine
Ruger K-Mini-14/5 F and Mini-14/5 RF
SIG AMT, SIG 550SP, SIG 551SP, SIG PE-57 types
SKS with detachable magazine type
Spectre Auto carbine type
Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48 type
Sterling MK-6, MK-7 and SAR types
Steyr A.U.G. semi-automatic firearms
USAS 12 semi-automatic type shotgun
Uzi type semi-automatic firearms
Valmet M62, M71S, M76, or M78 type semi-automatic firearms
Weaver Arm Nighthawk;
2. Any firearm manufactured under any designation, which is substantially identical to any of the firearms listed in paragraph 1 above. As used in this definition, the term "substantial" means pertaining to the substance, matter, material or essence of a thing and the term "identical" means exactly the same. Hence, a firearm is substantially identical to another only if it is identical in all material, essential respects. A firearm is not substantially identical to a listed assault firearm unless it is identical except for differences that do not alter the essential nature of the firearm.
The following are examples of manufacturer changes that do not alter the essential nature of the firearm: the name or designation of the firearm; the color of the firearm; the material used to make the barrel or stock of the firearm; the material used to make a pistol grip; and a modification of a pistol grip. This is not an exclusive list. A semi-automatic firearm should be considered to be "substantially identical," that is, identical in all material respects, to a named assault weapon if it meets the below listed criteria:
i. A semi-automatic rifle that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:
(1) A folding or telescoping stock;
(2) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;
(3) A bayonet mount;
(4) A flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and
(5) A grenade launcher;
ii. A semi-automatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:
(1) An ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;
(2) A threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;
(3) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned;
(4) Manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and/or
(5) A semi-automatic version of an automatic firearm; and
iii. A semi-automatic shotgun that has at least two of the following:
(1) A folding or telescoping stock;
(2) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;
(3) A fixed magazine capacity in excess of six rounds; and/or
(4) An ability to accept a detachable magazine;
3. A semi-automatic shotgun with either a magazine capacity exceeding six rounds, a folding stock or a pistol grip;
4. A semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine capacity exceeding 15 rounds;
5. A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault firearm or any combination of parts from which an assault firearm may be readily assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person; or
6. A firearm with a bump stock attached.
The following are not considered assault firearms within the meaning of this definition:
1. The Colt Match Target rifle, based on the manufacturer's specifications, is not part of the AR-15 series, and, thus, is not prohibited under N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1w(1). Although this rifle may resemble the Colt AR-15, there have been substantial changes to the firearm, including the receiver, which is not identical to an AR-15 receiver. In addition, because of changes in the configuration of the firearm, the Colt Match Target rifle is not substantially identical to a firearm prohibited under this classification.
2. The Springfield M1A rifle is not one of the enumerated firearms which are specifically prohibited under the State assault firearms laws. It has been prohibited in this State as being substantially identical to a named firearm. However, according to the manufacturer's specifications, the M1A has been modified. The modified M1A, which became available in 1994, is not considered to be substantially identical to a prohibited firearm under N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1w(2) and these rules. However, earlier versions of the M1A, which contain at least two of the criteria identified in the Attorney General's Guidelines Regarding the "Substantially Identical" Provision in the State's Assault Firearms Laws dated August 19, 1996 and reproduced in paragraph 2 above, are considered to be substantially identical to a prohibited firearm and continue to be defined as an assault firearm.
"Body armor penetrating bullets" means bullet(s) designed for use in a handgun and whose core or jacket, if the jacket is thicker than .025 of an inch, is of tungsten carbide or hard bronze or is made of other material, which is harder than a rating of 72 or greater on the Rockwell B. Hardness Scale and is capable of breaching or penetrating body armor.
"Bump stock" means any device or instrument for a firearm that increases the rate of fire achievable with the firearm by using energy from the recoil of the firearm to generate a reciprocating action that facilitates repeated activation of the trigger.
"Chief of police" or "chief police officer" means the highest ranking sworn member of a municipal police department.
"Firearm or firearms" means any handgun, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, automatic or semi-automatic rifle, or any gun, device or instrument in the nature of a weapon from which may be fired or ejected any solid projectable ball, slug, pellet, missile or bullet, or any gas, vapor or other noxious thing, by means of a cartridge or shell or by the action of an explosive or the igniting of flammable or explosive substances. It shall also include, without limitation, any firearm, which is in the nature of an air gun, spring gun or pistol or other weapon of a similar nature in which the propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon dioxide, compressed or other gas or vapor, air or compressed air, or is ignited by compressed air, and ejecting a bullet or missile smaller than three-eighths of an inch in diameter, with sufficient force to injure a person.
"Firearms Purchaser Identification Card number" means the number assigned by the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) pursuant to a fingerprint check of an applicant's fingerprints, for the issuance of a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card, as reported by the SBI to the investigating authority. The Firearms Purchaser Identification Card number shall be synonymous with SBI number.
"Gunsmith" means a person who is in the business of repairing or servicing firearms.
"Handgun" means any pistol, revolver, or other firearm originally designed or manufactured to be fired by the use of a single hand.
"Large capacity ammunition magazine" means a box, drum, tube or other container, which is capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition to be fed continuously and directly therefrom into a semi-automatic firearm. A large capacity ammunition magazine that has been permanently altered so that it is not capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition will cease to be defined as a "large capacity ammunition magazine." An ammunition magazine, which has been temporarily blocked or modified from holding more than 15 rounds, as by a piece of wood or a pin, is still considered to be a "large capacity ammunition magazine."
"Machine gun" means any firearm, mechanism, or instrument not requiring that the trigger be pressed for each shot and having a reservoir, belt, or other means of storing and carrying ammunition that can be loaded into the firearm, mechanism, or instrument and fired therefrom. A machine gun shall also include, without limitation, any firearm with a trigger crank attached.
"Manufacturer" means any person who receives or obtains raw materials or parts and processes them into firearms or finished parts of firearms, except a person who exclusively processes grips, stocks, and other nonmetal parts of firearms. The term does not include a person who repairs existing firearms or receives new and raw materials or parts solely for the repair of existing firearms.
"NICS" means the National Instant Criminal Background Check System accessed by telephone or facsimile transmission through the Division of State Police, which retailers must contact for information on whether a person is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under State or Federal law.
"Person" means any natural person, corporation, partnership, firm or association of any kind or nature whatsoever; any public entity of any kind or nature; the plural, as well as the singular and any gender.
"Pistol grip" means a well defined handle, similar to that found on a handgun, that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, and which permits the firearm to be held and fired with one hand.
"Retail dealer" means any person, including a gunsmith, except a manufacturer or a wholesale dealer, who sells, transfers, or assigns for a fee or profit any firearm or parts of firearms or ammunition which he has purchased or obtained with the intention, or for the purpose of reselling or reassigning to persons who are reasonably understood to be the ultimate consumers, and includes any person who is engaged in the business of repairing firearms or who sells any firearm to satisfy a debt secured by the pledge of a firearm.
"Rifle" means any firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder and using the energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire a single projectile through a rifled bore for each single pull of the trigger.
"Sawed-off shotgun" means any shotgun having a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length measured from the breach to the muzzle, or a rifle having a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length measured from the breach to the muzzle, or any firearm made from a rifle or a shotgun, whether by alteration, or otherwise, if such firearm as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches.
"Semi-automatic" means a firearm which fires a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger and is self-reloading or automatically chambers a round, cartridge or bullet.
"Shotgun" means any firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder and using the energy of the explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shots or a single projectile for each pull of the trigger, or any firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder which does not fire fixed ammunition.
"Stun gun" means any weapon or other device that emits an electrical charge or current intended to temporarily or permanently disable a person.
"Superintendent" means the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.
"Trigger crank" means any device or instrument to be attached to a firearm that repeatedly activates the trigger of the firearm through the use of a lever or other part that is turned in a circular motion; provided, however, the term shall not include any weapon initially designed and manufactured to fire through the use of a crank or lever.
"Weapon" means anything readily capable of lethal use or of inflicting serious bodily injury. The term includes, but is not limited to, all:
1. Firearms, even though not loaded or lacking a clip or other component to render them immediately operable;
2. Components which can be readily assembled into a weapon;
3. Gravity knives, switchblade knives, daggers, dirks, stilettos, or other dangerous knives, billies, blackjacks, bludgeons, metal knuckles, sandclubs, slingshots, cesti or similar leather bands studded with metal filings or razor blades imbedded in wood;
4. Stun guns; and
5. Any weapon or other device, which projects, releases or emits tear gas or any other substance intended to produce temporary physical discomfort or permanent injury through being vaporized or otherwise dispensed in the air.
"Wholesale dealer" means any person, except a manufacturer, who sells, transfers, or assigns firearms, or parts of firearms, to persons who are reasonably understood not to be the ultimate consumers, and includes persons who receive finished parts of firearms and assemble them into completed or partially completed firearms, in furtherance of such purpose, except that it shall not include those persons dealing exclusively in grips, stocks and other nonmetal parts of firearms.
