The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia on Friday declared New Jersey’s long-standing ban on assault-style rifles and magazine capacity limits unconstitutional, handing a significant legal victory to gun-rights advocates and setting up a likely fight at the Supreme Court.
The appellate court voted 10-5 to strike down the Garden State’s restrictions, in a decision that marks the first time a federal appeals court has found New Jersey’s ban to be in violation of the Second Amendment. The ruling was issued by the three-judge panel sitting in Philadelphia as part of the Third Circuit.
What this means for New Jersey residents
The court’s decision removes a statewide prohibition on certain semiautomatic rifles and on limits tied to magazine capacity. State officials said they are reviewing next steps and indicated they plan to continue enforcing other gun-safety laws while considering appeals.
Reactions were immediate and sharply divided.
“This ruling protects the rights of millions of responsible gun owners in the Garden State and serves as another benchmark in our efforts to dismantle gun control across the country,”
said John Commerford of the National Rifle Association. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill called the decision “dangerous, wrong,” and said it was “completely out of step with parents and the people of the Garden State.” Attorney General Jennifer Davenport termed the ruling “as unfortunate as it is legally incorrect” and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to treating gun violence as a public-health issue.
- Appeals court: Third Circuit in Philadelphia.
- Vote: 10 judges to 5 judges in the appellate decision.
- State response: Governor and Attorney General oppose the ruling and plan to pursue options within the law.
| Stakeholder | Reaction |
|---|---|
| National Rifle Association | Applauded the decision as a protection of gun owners’ rights. |
| Gov. Mikie Sherrill | Called the ruling dangerous and vowed not to back down from gun-safety laws. |
| Attorney General Jennifer Davenport | Described the decision as legally incorrect; pledged continued enforcement of other firearms laws. |
New Jersey has maintained some of the nation’s stricter firearms restrictions for decades, including weapons bans and magazine-capacity rules that date back to the early 1990s. The appellate ruling interrupts that long-standing framework and could prompt immediate legal and enforcement questions at the state level.
Officials in the governor’s office and the attorney general’s office said they were assessing the ruling and coordinating with law enforcement partners. The state may seek further review; the U.S. Supreme Court could be asked to take up the case, as it has recently agreed to hear other challenges involving similar bans in other states.
For now, New Jersey residents should expect legal filings and public statements from both state leaders and interest groups in the days ahead as officials determine how the decision will be implemented and whether it will be appealed.
