To the Editor:

I was happy to see that common sense finally prevailed at the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office and that charges were dropped against Gordon N. Van Gilder for possession of an antique flintlock pistol. Unfortunately, it didn't occur before the incident garnered national media attention and subjected our state to ridicule.

While the dismissal of charges was welcome, the application of common sense in this case shouldn't have to be made "in-the-trenches," but needs to be applied at the source by revising the convoluted and ludicrously worded state firearms laws.

Why should you care about this issue if you are not a gun owner or collector of antique firearms? Well, you may be surprised to know that if you have a BB gun or even a slingshot at home, you own a firearm according to New Jersey state law. Sound ridiculous? No more ridiculous then arresting Mr. Van Gilder for possessing a 300 year-old historic relic.

How many of you enjoy watching presentations of Revolutionary War or Civil War battles or encampments by historical re-enactors? Under New Jersey's existing laws, many of those re-enactors could technically be charged with felonies. Thankfully, most law enforcement officials use their good judgment and common sense (or don't really understand the intricacies of the laws in regard to antique firearms).

I think all of us realize that the intent of our firearms laws is to insure that deadly weapons are kept out of the hands of criminals and the mentally unstable. And we also intuitively know the kind of weapons that constitute the threat and we want regulated. Does anyone think that criminals are going to be using BB guns or slingshots to commit crimes? Are gang members really going to be doing drive-by shootings with muzzle-loading 18th century flintlocks?

It's time for New Jersey to revamp her firearms statutes. In the words of state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, who was commenting on the Van Gilder case, "it doesn't get more ludicrous than this." One easy remedy would be to align our State law with the existing Federal regulations on antique weapons. This is precisely the intent of State Assembly Bill A-4250 that was recently introduced by Assemblywomen Caroline Casagrande, and Assemblymen Ronald Dancer and Samuel Fiocchi. Those legislators deserve to be commended for their prompt and well-considered action to address this issue. All of us should urge our respective representatives in Trenton to support this common sense bill.

DOUGLAS LLOYD

Woodbury

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