As the euphoria of the 2016 presidential elections is wearing off, another feeling is starting to creep in on gun owners throughout our state. That feeling is one of great concern for the few gun rights we currently enjoy.

As Governor Christie's term is coming to an end, gun owners have to start accepting that in the near future, the few gun rights we currently enjoy are going to come under almost certain attack from politicians in the state. Don't get me wrong, while Governor Christie has done nothing to improve gun rights in the state, at the very least he prevented more bad legislation from taking effect. As the thought of a Liberal Democratic Governor is an utmost certainty, Democrats are going to have free reign over screwing over further restricting gun rights and enacting harsh legislations that will hamper the 2nd Amendment.

But wait... there is a chance, there are two Republicans running in this race, you say. Let's be realistic.

First, over the last 100 years, only once has the incumbent party kept the Governor's office for a third term, after a Governor termed out. That occurred in 1962 when Democrat Richard Hughes won office after two terms of fellow Democrat Robert Meyner.

Secondly, does anyone in their right minds think that a Republican can win after the "BridgeGate" Scandal and Governor Christie's close association to President Trump?

In either case, neither of the Republican candidates have the financial or the political capital to compete with Phil Murphy. (who is having ex VP Joe Biden fly in for a campaign visit)

Short of a miracle, NJ residents better get used to the idea of Governor Phil Murphy.

So What Does A Governor Murphy Mean For Gun Owners?

The idea of a Governor Murphy should frighten any gun owner in the state, wishing and willing to give anything to have a "moderate" Sweeney over Liberal Murphy.

To get an idea of the gun agenda, we take a look at what Phil Murphy has on his website, Murphy4NJ.com,

Quote Sign commonsense legislation that Christie vetoed: Phil Murphy would start by signing every piece of gun violence prevention legislation that Governor Christie has vetoed. These bipartisan measures would have kept guns out of the hands of gang members and individuals convicted of making terroristic threats (without due process), restricted the size of gun magazines, and prohibited the sale of a powerful .50-caliber rifle.

The website further goes to point out the legislation that would prevent persons on the various government watch lists from being able to purchase a firearm. While this is the most "sensible" legislation, it failed for one key reason, there was ZERO due process for person's on those watch lists. People on the no fly lists, such as Senator Ted Kennedy, Congressman John Lewis, and CNN reporter Drew Griffin would not be allowed to purchase firearms.

Beyond that, it would mean Phil Murphy would sign legislation that would confiscate guns from people accused of non-violent domestic issues and limits on the firearms that you may own, including lower magazine limits

To take the ridiculous to the next level, Phil Murphy proposes the following,

Quote Mandate gun safety training: No one should be able to purchase a firearm without first attending a gun safety training course.

No one should be able to purchase a firearm without first attending a gun safety training course. Promote smart gun technology: We must regain our position as a leader in the smart gun movement by requiring all gun retailers to carry at least one smart gun once they are commercially available.

We must regain our position as a leader in the smart gun movement by once they are commercially available. Tax gun sales to prevent violence: All gun sales should be subject to a tax that will fund law enforcement, drug treatment centers, and mental health services.

All gun sales should be subject to a tax that will fund law enforcement, drug treatment centers, and mental health services. Strengthen regulations on gun transfers: Phil Murphy would make it a crime to sell guns without conducting a mandatory background check, and would require individuals to register their firearms kept in the state.

Phil Murphy would make it a crime to sell guns without conducting a mandatory background check, and would require individuals to register their firearms kept in the state. Prohibit the " sale of a powerful .50-caliber rifle."

Required Gun Safety Training

As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. These good intentions seem "sensible" to the common resident of New Jersey, but they are surely hell for any gun owner.

Look, I am ALL FOR gun owners having safety training and technological improvements that would be helpful for those looking for it, HOWEVER, since when can the government restrict a God given right?

Are people required to take a public speaking class before talking to anyone? Perhaps they should be, but just like free speech, and UNLIKE driving, the right to keep and bear arms.... is a right, and not a privilege.

Are gun owners who do not take the "mandated gun safety training" to be considered "un-trustworthy"?

If so, prior to the 1938 Regulations Against Jews' Possession of Weapons in Nazi Germany, Jews were disarmed by the police on the basis that "the Jewish population 'cannot be regarded as trustworthy'" On that basis, who is to control the educational requirements? Who sets the agenda? Do we have the same educational requirements before we go buy a bottle of Vodka or a kitchen knife? Are gun owners who do not complete this education requirement going to be stripped of their guns and GUN RIGHTS?

More importantly, who is going to pay for this training?

As much as I am all for gun owners taking gun training classes, I do not see anywhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights anything related to being "educated" before practicing a right.

Smart Guns

The problem here is what is not told. The NJ Smart Gun laws would REQUIRE every gun sold in NJ to be a "smart gun" once one is commercially available. Yep.... so unless they repeal the existing law, this should be a non starter for ANYONE. Beyond that, do we require every grocery stores to carry certain items? Why should gun store owners and operators be TOLD what they HAVE TO offer.

Gun Sales Tax

How do you make sure you keep poor people poor? You keep on taxing them.

One thing that I have learned over the last 9 years with NJ Gun Forums is that gun owners in this state comes from all demographic groups. For every affluent gun owner, there are 20 people who love shooting but have to scrape up every cent they can save in order to fund their new gun purchase.

Any firearms sales tax is only going to hurt gun buyers, and more importantly will hurt the vendors in the state. The ONLY people who will be winning are the gun dealers in PA and Delware who will be more than happy to sell their guns to NJ gun buyers.

Required NICS and Gun Registration

Hold on there... didn't the municipality and the state police just do the extensive background check when they issued that FID and those brand spanking new pistol permits?

I think it is a good idea to do a NICS check anyway, but it is yet annother financial burden and expense. There is a $15 nics charge in NJ, because NJ gets its grubby paws on it, rather than the federal NICS system used in most of Free America. Are NICS checks going to be free for everyone in NJ?

Gun Registration? The state police and the municipality already have those records every time a pistol permit gets sent in. But in any case... you know who also had mandatory gun registrations? Hitler, Stalin and Mao all enacted gun registration and subsequent gun confiscation before they murdered millions of political dissidents. (all under good intentions of course).

Quote “The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subject races to possess arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by so doing. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that the supply of arms to the underdogs is a sine qua non for the overthrow of any sovereignty. So let’s not have any native militia or native police. German troops alone will bear the sole responsibility for the maintenance of law and order throughout the occupied Russian territories, and a system of military strong-points must be evolved to cover the entire occupied country.” - Adolph Hitler, April 1942

Ban on 50 Caliber Rifles

Seriously? Again?

Can any politician give a realistic reason to ban all 50 caliber rifles?

When was the last time that a criminal committed a crime in NJ with a 50 caliber... flintlock, 50 Beowolf, 500 Nitro Express or muzzle loader.... those are after all more likely to be in someone's gun collection than a $5k or more expensive Barrett 50 BMG. Heck, why not go after 600/700 Nitro Express, 500 S&W, 50 Action Express too.

The biggest risk to airplanes (the commonly cited 2010 case) is not a guy with a 50 caliber rifle, but rather the broken infrastructure all around.

Bottom Line

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." - John Acton

A democrat in the governor's office and a democrat controlled legislature is grim news for New Jersey and anyone concerned with gun rights.

What's different this time is that it is a top item for Democrats eager to do anything to act out against President Trump.

There are many gun rights advocates in the state who will say we have to rise up and fight. Unfortunately I don't think it will make any difference this time for the simple facts that the powers that be both do not understand gun issues, nor CARE about your rights.

For those that can leave, it may be opportune to do as @Pizza Bob says in every post "adios." For everyone else left behind, hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

-Maks

For further reading and discussion on this topic I recommend,

While we typically do not have political topics out in general discussion, @67gtonut has set up a special section dedicated to the 2017 NJ Gubernatorial Race, We look forward to seeing you there.

https://www.njgunforums.com/forum/index.php?/forum/189-new-jersey-gubernatorial-election-2017/