Bill > A4277

This bill amends existing New Jersey law to establish new "gun-free" and "weapon-free" zones around certain public properties. Specifically, it expands the existing prohibition on possessing firearms within 1,000 feet of schools to include "public property safety zones," which are defined as day care centers, public housing facilities, public parks, and public buildings (libraries and museums). The bill also clarifies that ignorance of being within these zones is not a defense, and that the presence of students or the school being in session is not a requirement for prosecution. Additionally, it introduces provisions for using official maps to define these zones and outlines penalties for possessing firearms or other weapons within these expanded safety zones, classifying violations as third-degree crimes for firearms and fourth-degree crimes for other weapons.