NJ S937

Active duty members of the United States Armed Forces and National Guard would be permitted to carry personal or service rifles or handguns at all times while in New Jersey

Current law only allows military members to carry authorized weapons while on duty or traveling between places of duty; this bill extends that right to off-duty hours

Military personnel carrying firearms off-duty would be limited to weapons authorized for civilian use in New Jersey

The bill exempts active duty military from the firearms training course requirement that applies to other exempted groups under N.J.S.2C:39-6

The legislation cites threats from terrorist organizations and past attacks on military personnel (Fort Hood 2009, Washington Navy Yard 2013, Chattanooga 2015) as justification for allowing service members to carry firearms for self-defense