Robert Canfield, Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey is Pro 2A. Part of his platform is to eliminate gun laws that do not make sense or are just flat out Unconstitutional. “We have so many laws on the books that make no sense whatsoever. They were written, and passed, by people who are ignorant of firearms and are afraid of them. Most of these laws are fear based, not fact based.”
In his plan, Canfield will make New Jersey Constitutional Carry. He will eliminate Purchase permits, ammo tracking, and eliminate most sensitive areas. “It’s either rip the band aid off now and make permits to carry optional in this state or spend millions of dollars in the future with lawsuits. I’d rather save future taxpayers money and make the Permit to Carry optional and eliminate Purchase permits all together.” Canfield would make New Jersey Constitutional Carry during his first week in office, along with refunding any unused Permits to Purchase a handgun and no longer require them. The PTC will still be available for reciprocity purposes. The cost will be capped at $25, and it will be valid for 5 years. Townships and Issuing authorities will have 3 Calendar days (excluding weekends and holidays) to issue the permit from completed application. All standards used will be objective and standard. He would also remove the One Gun per Month rule. “A lawsuit was filed June 18, 2024 fighting the Purchase Permits and One Gun Per Month rule. If these are not settled, they will be when I get in.”
Canfield will also be implementing a plan that will allow teachers to carry on a voluntary basis. “We have laws now that allow teachers to carry, but there is a process to get approved, and most are not able to. My plan would be straight forward. The teacher must posses a valid PTC in New Jersey, complete a SORA training, and qualify with the HQC-2 standard. The SORA is a yearly renewal with qualification.”
Sensitive places will include 4 places on the state level. 1. K-12 schools past the lobby or main office during school hours, except for teachers who are SORA licensed. Outside, playgrounds, and sporting events are allowed. 2. Detention Centers. 3. A group home for the mentally disabled and 4. A Private residence where the owner states they do not wish to let you carry. (Exceptions for home-based businesses open to the public) That’s it. However, these do not include federally banned places such as Secure Areas of Airports, and Federal Property. Anything open to the public is open to firearms. Business can ban open carry, but not concealed. Employers, unless there is a high risk of injury or death to the person carrying, cannot ban employees from concealed carrying while at work. They can ban open carry, however.
Training will still be required to receive a Permit to Carry. This includes a Use of Force class, safe handling and storage, and a CCARE Qualification.
Penalties for improper use of a firearm will become more severe. For example, if a felon, who cannot own a gun, uses a gun to commit murder, there will be a mandatory sentence with no exceptions or parole. “To balance the fact that more people will be carrying firearms, the laws for improper use must be more severe. This isn’t a ‘was it a good shoot?’ this is more of a willful illegal action like murder, armed robbery, assault, road rage etc. Upon being found guilty of the charges, the sentence is mandatory.” Use of Force laws will be changed to allow for the defense of a person in public from violent acts and eliminate the duty to retreat commonly called Stand Your Ground law.
Another issue Canfield wants to cover with this is civil liability after a good shoot. He wants to eliminate the ability of a person’s estate to sue civilly for a justified self-defense shooting. “Someone breaks into your house with a gun and you shoot them. No charges are filed, but the family wants to sue you for $1 million. Under this new system, they would not be able to, as you were justified in your defense. You will be granted immunity from any prosecution in a good shoot situation.
When it comes to the Banned by Name laws, Canfield will eliminate it. “I can’t sell you an AR-15, but I can sell you an AM-15. The difference? 1 letter. Same gun, different name.” Along with the Banned by name, Canfield also plans to eliminate the compliance work needed on firearms. “The muzzle device must be a certain one. Most of you reading this probably don’t even know what a muzzle device is. Those of you who do know that it doesn’t do anything to make the gun less dangerous. Pinning a movable stock? What is the point? Now you can’t share your AR with a friend because you have short arms and they have long. It does nothing to the gun except provide comfortability. If you buy and Other, you have a brace that can move. None of it makes any sense.”
The Magazine capacity bans, if not ruled unconstitutional by the courts, will also be overturned. “What difference does it make how many rounds fit in my gun? I can only have 10 rounds, but there’s no limit to how many magazines I can have. So, if I felt like it, I could get 100 magazines and fill them all and carry 1,000 rounds with me. Who came up with this stuff, because it makes no sense.” The case is pending and will hopefully be finished by the time Canfield takes office in January of 2026.
The Firearms ID card will still be used. It will be valid for 10 years, and the cost will be capped at $5. “What I like about these FID cards is that they are good for 4 points of ID at the MVC. I also want to see if there is a way I can make them Brady compliant and make them the NICS check for NJ gun purchasers. This will mean less resources need to be used at the State Police, and even the local PD.”
“All of these laws will be dealt with during my first week in office. I want to do it the day I’m sworn in, but it may have to wait until the next day. I already have a venue picked out to sign at, and a tentative guest list.”
When it comes to mental health and firearms, there is a lot of confusion, and nonsense. “A lot of lawful gun owners will suffer in silence because they are afraid if they seek help, they will lose their guns. This should NEVER happen.” Currently, if you have been voluntarily or involuntarily committed to a mental institution, you cannot purchase a firearm in New Jersey, even though you could federally.
“I know a few people who have been denied their rights because of something from 10 or more years ago. They went to a mental hospital for a couple days after a traumatic experience, were deemed fine by the doctor, and still can’t get their firearms. This is a sick abuse of our system. We are literally penalizing people for seeking help, even as minors.”
Under Canfield’s new laws, a person can only be denied their rights if they have a pattern of mental health issues, such as multiple commitments in a short amount of time relating to harm to self or others. “Obviously, if someone is involuntarily committed, they need to show proof that the issues have been resolved and get cleared by a mental health professional. But voluntary and given a clean bill at the end of the stay should not affect you. Seeking help, inpatient or outpatient should not be held against you unless it must be.”
Part of Canfield’s plan is also to boost the mental health system in New Jersey. He plans to work with DOBI to make a rule that all insurance plans and carriers must cover inpatient and outpatient mental health at low or no cost to the insured. “A lot of people want to go to therapy and talk to someone. They want to get help with issues but can’t afford it and their insurance won’t cover it. We need to fix this so people will get the help they want and need.”
Canfield will also designate $100 million in the budget to set up a charity care system for mental health. “I want to use this for those who don’t have insurance and want to go to therapy. They can go to outpatient therapy and the state will pay a flat fee per session to the provider. It will also cover inpatient care as well. No one should be turned away from getting the mental health care they deserve.”
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