Well, New Jersey’s ban on high-capacity magazines is now in effect. The law also limits the size of magazines; legal ones can only carry 10-rounds. Gun rights supporters tried to get an injunction on the new law. It didn’t work. So, how will this ban be enforced? Will New Jersey State police go door-to-door? Well, they’re rather cagey about how they will go about it. They told Breitbart News that they have no plans to go door-to-door, but also they don’t discuss enforcement strategies. That’s not necessarily a definite “no” answer, folks. Stephen Gutowski of the Washington Free Beacon got the same answer from state authorities, who said the statewide ban on magazines carrying more than 10 rounds will be enforced, but didn’t elaborate:
Any civilian caught in possession of a magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds may be arrested and prosecuted. Possession of such magazines after the deadline will be considered a crime of the fourth degree under state law and carry up to 18 months in prison and up to $10,000 in fines or both.
Nearly all modern full-size or compact handguns and rifles sold in the United States come standard with magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
State police told the Washington Free Beacon the effort to enforce the law will be a statewide endeavor directed by the attorney general's office. They would not comment other than to say they will enforce New Jersey's laws.
"We will enforce the law of the state," Lieutenant Theodore Schafer of the New Jersey State Police said. "That's our plan."
Schafer would not give any details on the agency's plan to enforce the law and referred the Free Beacon to the attorney general's office for further questions.
Leland Moore, a public information officer for the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, refused to answer any questions on how the state planned to deal with gun owners who did not comply with the new law.
Earlier this month, a last ditch effort to put a hold on the law from going into effect was rejected. The silence over enforcement is somewhat standard; cops don’t want to tip off those who might want to violate the law on methods to get around it. Yet, we’re not dealing with laws relating to trading or taxes. This is about constitutional rights and personal freedom. This is about the Constitution. And it seems that the prevarication is due to the fact that the only way to enforce this law, and other anti-gun laws that raise questions about enforcement, is by the police going door-to-door unannounced to ensure compliance and confiscation if need be. That’s rather…fascist. In the meantime, gun rights groups should appeal this decision by the courts, and Gutowski noted they plan on doing so.
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