Bill > A5641

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the Attorney General, to establish and implement a five-year pilot program to provide to certain persons at no cost the training required to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card, permit to purchase a handgun, or permit to carry a handgun, as the case may be. A person earning less than $75,000 per year in income or less than $150,000 per year in income, for a married couple filing a joint tax return, and who is otherwise qualified to obtain the identification card or permit, is to be approved to participate in the pilot program. The superintendent is to offer training courses in one northern, one central, and one southern county in this State two times per year. In the alternative the superintendent may provide a voucher to an applicant which the applicant may use to pay for any private training course approved by the superintendent. Upon completion of the training course, an applicant shall be issued the identification card or permit. Finally, the bill requires the superintendent to submit a report evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program to the Governor and the Legislature within 90 days of the program's termination. The report is to evaluate the pilot program and recommend whether the pilot program should be continued, expanded, or made permanent. The sponsor notes that the cost of taking the required training course may hinder a person who earns a low income from lawfully obtaining a firearm. Individuals who cannot afford to complete a training course are likely those who are most in need of obtaining a firearm for the purpose of self-defense. A person's income level often dictates whether that person can afford to move out of a high crime area. Those who cannot afford to move from a high crime area are at increased risk of being the victim of a crime. The sponsor intends for this legislation to increase access to firearms for those individuals who are most in need of exercising their constitutional right to keep and bear arms for purposes of self-defense.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Bethanne Patrick (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 06/20/2023)

Official Document