Federal Law Offers a Narrow Loophole—NJ Slams It Shut
Federal rules technically allow those aged 18–20 to obtain a handgun through a private transfer from a family member who is not a federally licensed dealer, but Hague contends that this is a rare exception, not a viable solution. New Jersey’s stricter law nullifies even that faint opportunity, she adds.
“New Jersey law completely extinguishes both rights for adults under 21,” said the Second Amendment Foundation in a statement. “This case is exceedingly simple: ‘The people’ have the right to keep and bear arms. Lawmakers don’t get to cherry-pick who counts.”
The New Jersey Firearms Owners Syndicate weighed in as well, noting that while the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled in favor of gun rights in Pennsylvania, New Jersey’s stricter policies demanded a separate legal challenge.
Legal Firepower on Both Sides
The plaintiffs are represented by Shannon Garrahan of Law Offices of Shannon Garrahan PC and Raymond M. DiGuiseppe of The DiGuiseppe Law Firm PC. Information on defense counsel for Gov. Murphy, AG Bondi, or other named officials was not available as of Wednesday.
The lawsuit aims to strike down both the state and federal age-based handgun restrictions, setting the stage for a potential high-stakes courtroom battle with nationwide implications.
