Bill > A4791

Introduced Session

This bill establishes a criminal penalty of purchasing firearm parts to illegally manufacture an untraceable firearm, also known as a "ghost gun." Under current law, a person who manufactures a handgun, rifle, or shotgun without being licensed to do so is guilty of a fourth degree crime. The manufacture of a machine gun, sawed off shotgun, or assault firearm is a crime of the third degree. This bill establishes a separate third degree crime of purchasing separately or as a kit any combination of parts from which an untraceable firearm may be readily assembled. The bill defines untraceable firearm as an unlawfully manufactured firearm for which the sale or distribution chain from a licensed retailer to the point of its first retail sale cannot be traced by law enforcement officials. A violation of the bill's provisions is not to merge with any other criminal conviction and a court is to impose separate sentences for a violation of the bill's provisions and any other criminal offense. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a three-to-five year term of incarceration, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.

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Timothy Eustace (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee (on 05/18/2017)