After you read the following NJ Criminal Statute (“KeepSafe” program established) you may decide that you need the help of a lawyer, or need a legal interpretation of how this statute applies to your case. The firm of Villani & DeLuca has experienced criminal lawyers with over 20 years of experience, including a former municipal prosecutor. Call the number above for a free 24×7 phone consultation.
a. There is established a “KeepSafe” program to encourage and stimulate the safe storage of firearms in the State of New Jersey by providing instant rebates to firearms purchasers who purchase trigger locking devices.
Under the program, a person who purchases a firearm from a retail dealer licensed under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:58-2 shall be eligible for a $5 instant rebate when a compatible trigger locking device is purchased along with that firearm. The licensed retail dealer shall deduct the rebate from the price of the compatible locking device in order to reduce by $5 the cost of the device for the purchaser.
b.The Superintendent of State Police, in conjunction with the Attorney General, shall adopt guidelines in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to effectuate the purposes of this act.
In addition, the superintendent shall prepare and deliver to each licensed retail firearms dealer in the State the forms necessary to record and report participation in the program. The forms, which shall set forth the name, address, telephone number, State tax number and State license number of the retail firearms dealer, the name of the firearms purchaser and his firearms purchaser identification card number or permit to purchase a handgun number, the make and model number of the compatible trigger locking device purchased and the date of the sale, shall be in duplicate. One copy shall be retained by the retail dealer for his records. The other shall be submitted to the Attorney General for reimbursement. The reimbursement copies shall be submitted monthly at a time prescribed by the superintendent. The submitting retail dealer shall be entitled to a reimbursement of $5 for each trigger locking device sold as part of the KeepSafe program. To help defray any administrative costs, each participating retail dealer shall receive, in addition to the reimbursement, $0.50 for each valid reimbursement copy submitted.
The superintendent also shall provide each licensed retail firearms dealer with a sign to be prominently displayed at a conspicuous place on the dealer’s business premises where firearms are offered for sale. The sign shall state substantially the following:
“KEEP NEW JERSEY FIREARMS SAFE.
TO ENCOURAGE NEW JERSEY GUN OWNERS TO
STORE THEIR FIREARMS SAFELY, THE STATE IS
OFFERING A $5 INSTANT REBATE WHEN YOU
PURCHASE A COMPATIBLE TRIGGER LOCK ALONG
WITH YOUR FIREARM.
REMEMBER–THE USE OF A TRIGGER LOCK IS
ONLY ONE ASPECT OF RESPONSIBLE FIREARM
STORAGE. FIREARMS SHOULD BE STORED,
UNLOADED AND LOCKED IN A LOCATION THAT IS
BOTH SEPARATE FROM THEIR AMMUNITION
AND INACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN.
NEW JERSEY’S FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ARE
PRECIOUS–KEEP THEM SAFE!!”
L.1999,c.255,s.2.
Disclaimer: A copy of this statute has been provided for your information. This wording was current from the NJ website lis.njleg.state.nj.us as of August 2012.
