John Petrolino exposes New Jersey Governor Murphy’s Discriminatory Gun Permitting Regime, which denies Black Applicants at twice the rate of other applicants.

In the wake of the Bruen decision by the Supreme Court in 2022, many New Jersey residents hoped the days of restrictive firearm carry permit denials would be over.

Unfortunately, as AmmoLand News contributor John Petrolino highlights in his recent Gun Rights Policy Conference presentation, the fight for fair and equal access to gun rights in New Jersey is far from over. The issue at hand? Racial bias in the state’s gun permit process, particularly against Black applicants.

The Bruen Decision: A Game-Changer?

Let’s rewind a bit. In June 2022, the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision struck down New York’s restrictive gun permit laws, setting a national precedent for states like New Jersey. The ruling made it clear that Americans have the right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. This should have leveled the playing field for law-abiding citizens in states with strict gun laws, right?

Not exactly.

Denials Based on “Subjective Standards”

New Jersey’s response to the Bruen decision came in the form of new laws, such as the “Carry Killer” Law of December 2022, which added many “sensitive places” where guns are banned and strengthened subjective standards used to deny permits. A key statute that remains an obstacle for gun owners is N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3(c)(5), which states that authorities can deny a permit if the applicant is found to lack “the essential character of temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm.”

What does that even mean? Simply put, it’s vague and subjective. The problem with this is that it gives too much discretion to the people in charge of issuing permits—whether it’s a local police chief, the state police, or a Judge. They can deny someone’s permit application just because they don’t “like” them or find some reason to doubt their character. This is where things get tricky, especially when it comes to racial bias.

For more on this statute, you can read it directly here: N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3.

Racial Disparities in Gun Permit Denials: Blacks Are Denied Permits at Double the Rate!

John Petrolino uncovered some startling facts when he dug into New Jersey’s firearm permit data. According to the data (provided by the state itself), Black applicants are being denied gun permits at a rate 2.5 times higher than white applicants. That’s more than double the rate!

What’s even more shocking is that these denials are often based on non-criminal reasons, using those same subjective standards mentioned earlier. Petrolino found that Black applicants are being denied at a 2.2 times higher rate than white applicants simply based on “character” judgments. This means that Black applicants, even without any criminal background, are facing discrimination when trying to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

The data doesn’t lie, and it raises serious concerns about whether New Jersey’s apparently racisit gun permit process is fair for everyone.

Lack of Action from State Officials

When confronted with this data, New Jersey officials haven’t exactly been rushing to fix the problem. Petrolino reached out to Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Governor Phil Murphy multiple times, asking them to address the racial disparities in gun permit denials. The response? Silence.

In fact, the Attorney General’s office has refused to provide any guidance or take meaningful action to address the racial bias in the permitting process. Even though they know the data shows a clear problem, they seem content to let it continue.

This raises the question: Is New Jersey’s Democat leadership willfully ignoring these civil rights violations?

What Needs to Change?

The numbers don’t lie. Racial bias in the gun permit process is real, and it’s a problem that needs addressing. The state should no longer be allowed to use vague, subjective standards like “character” to deny law-abiding citizens their rights. Instead, the permit process should be based on clear, objective standards, as outlined by the Supreme Court in Bruen.

Until state leaders like Attorney General Platkin and Governor Murphy take action, New Jersey’s gun owners—especially Black gun owners—will continue to face unfair barriers when trying to exercise their rights.

If you want to learn more about New Jersey’s gun permit laws and their impact, check out N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4 for the statute on carrying firearms: N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.

A Call to Action

This fight isn’t just about guns—it’s about equal rights. If New Jersey’s leaders are serious about addressing systemic racism, they need to start by fixing their broken gun permit system. Denying law-abiding citizens, particularly those in Black communities, their Second Amendment rights based on subjective, biased standards is unacceptable.

It’s time for New Jersey to get serious about fixing this problem. If you care about gun rights and equal treatment under the law, it’s important to stay informed and involved. Let’s hold our state leaders accountable for the racial disparities in gun permit denials and demand fair, objective standards for everyone.

To stay updated on this issue and get involved, you can follow John Petrolino’s work here and here and track his research. The fight for fair gun rights in New Jersey is far from over, and it’s going to take all of us to win it.