Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced on April 9 several legal victories and enforcement actions intended to strengthen protections against gun violence in New Jersey, including over $500,000 in judgments against out-of-state retailers for illegally selling banned firearm accessories to state residents.
These actions are part of ongoing efforts by the Attorney General’s office to reduce gun violence and keep communities safe. The measures include both financial penalties and injunctions designed to prevent future sales of illegal items such as bump stocks and large capacity magazines (LCMs) into New Jersey.
Davenport said, “Every New Jersey resident deserves to live, work, and raise a family without fear of gun violence. That is why we are using every tool we can to combat the gun violence epidemic—and why driving down gun violence will continue to be a top priority for our office.” She added that while progress has been made, more work remains: “We owe it to our kids and our communities to do everything we can protect them from the scourge of gun violence.”
The recent court decisions include judgments against RW Arms, Ltd., a Texas retailer fined over $194,000 for selling bump stocks; Arms Unlimited, Inc., a Nevada retailer fined over $332,000 for selling LCMs; CSS Holdings LLC (Carolina Shooters), which agreed to pay $25,000; and Firequest International Inc., which agreed to pay $10,000. Both RW Arms and Arms Unlimited were also ordered by the courts to block future shipments of these products into New Jersey. Jeremy E. Hollander said: “Subjecting New Jersey consumers to possible criminal liability by failing to warn them that the products they are buying are illegal…is especially troubling. We will continue to take action against retailers who violate our consumer protection laws.”
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) also secured court victories upholding state laws prohibiting handgun possession under age 21 except in defined circumstances and maintaining a ban on sharing digital files used for making untraceable “ghost guns.” Christian Heyne from Brady said: “Today’s announcements further demonstrate how Attorney General Davenport intends to continue this legacy of leadership in addressing our uniquely American public health crisis…we know all too well that more work must be done as long as gun violence persists in any form.”
As efforts continue with collaboration between OAG staff—including Deputy Attorneys General Sara J. Koste and Claire Corea—and national organizations like Brady, observers expect further policy implementation aimed at keeping illegal firearms out of communities.
