Firearms Banned From All Union County Property, New Amendment States

UNION COUNTY, NJ — In an effort to combat gun violence, a new amendment to the Union County Code bans anyone from carrying firearms on County property, as well as properties affiliated with the County and public transportation vehicles operated by the County.

A final hearing and vote on the new ordinance took place at the Union County Commissioner Board meeting on Nov. 10, and it will be published on Wednesday, Nov. 16. An exemption for law enforcement officers is included in the new ordinance.

"We take this legislative action to hold firm on gun safety in our public spaces. Our residents have the right to conduct business with the County, go to school, cast their ballot in an election and enjoy our parks without having to worry about gun violence,” said Commissioner Board Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “The U.S. Supreme Court has opened the door for a torrent of guns to enter our community, as a result of its decision on the Bruen case last July. We are resolved to shut that door."

The U.S. Supreme Court case, "New York Rifle & Pistol Assn. Inc. v. Bruen," that took place last July decided in a 6-3 majority vote that New York's "proper cause" requirement for obtaining a permit to obtain a handgun in public was invalid. As a result, this decision enables anyone in New York State to carry a gun anywhere, for any reason, unless countervailing state law is upheld at constitutional.

"Governor Murphy and our state legislators are working hard to stem the damage done by the Bruen decision, and we are proud to support their efforts with this new amendment to Article XI," said Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, who chairs the Union County Commissioner Board’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. "The facts are clear: easy access to guns is a recipe for violence and fear, not safety and security."

While the Bruen decision only impacts gun safety laws in New York State, Union County Commissioners argue that it sets a precedent for challenges to gun laws in other states such as New Jersey, which currently requires residents to show a "justifiable need" to obtain a permit.

The properties covered by the Union County ban include, but are not limited to:

• All County parks
• Office buildings and other facilities
• Affiliated entities including polling places in all 21 municipalities, the Union County Courthouse and Family Court in Elizabeth the Vocational-Technical Schools Campus in Scotch Plains and the three Union College campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth and Plainfield.

The new section of Article XI in the County Code is "intended to ensure that the Bruen decision does not enable people to carry guns on Union County property, within the restrictions allowed by the U.S. Constitution and case law stemming from the Constitution," the Commissioners wrote.

As amended, section 115-57 of Title XI reads:

• No person shall be permitted to carry any firearm concealed or otherwise, in any Sensitive Area within Union County, New Jersey.
• This restriction shall not apply to law enforcement officers, on or off duty, in the course of their lawful and official duties.
• A person who violates or causes to be violated a provision of this article shall be subject to a penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or to a fine, or both, of $500.00, for the first offense and $1,000.00 for each subsequent offense.

Gov. Murphy has also enacted a number of gun safety laws. For instance, in July, Murphy signed a suite of seven new state laws that enhance gun safety by requiring firearm training to obtain a gun permit, banning .50 caliber weapons, making it easier to sue gun manufacturers and dealers over gun crimes, requiring new residents to register firearms, requiring micro-stamping technology, regulating handgun ammunition and cracking down on ghost guns.

Earlier this month, state lawmakers also introduced a new bill that bans non-permitted guns from 25 categories of buildings and facilities including government buildings, health care facilities, airports and more.

This bill also requires gun owners to purchase liability insurance. If the measure passes into law, it will be the first statewide mandate of its kind in the nation.