It’s time to admit and accept it, the world can be a dangerous place. Sure, this isn’t a post-apocalyptic extremely bad situation where “kill or be killed” is the law of the land, but sometimes people choose to harm others.
It’s better to have a game plan for such scenarios rather than being not ready when the unlikable happens. This article will guide you on what some self-defense weapons you can have in New Jersey.
New Jersey Castle Doctrine
New Jersey’s statutes make allowances for protecting yourself when your safety is being threatened. Use of force justifiable for protection of the person when the defendant reasonably believes that such force is immediately necessary for the purpose of protecting himself against the use of unlawful force by such other person on the present occasion. (source)
Is Pepper Spray Legal in New Jersey?
Pepper spray is one of the most practical way of protecting yourself from harm. Not only will the searing pain stop them dead in their tracks, but they’ll be temporarily blinded, as well. The New Jersey law allows for the possession and purchase of pepper spray. The law states that the purchaser should be over 18 and not have a felony conviction.
The pepper spray itself cannot contain more than 3/4 ounce of fluid and must conform to the specific formulation and spray characteristics. The law also specifies that acquisition must be made in person and not via the internet or mailing services.
Pepper Spray Physical Effects
When an attacker gets in contact with pepper spray, their eyes will close immediately. They will feel a “bubbling” or “boiling” sensation, followed by temporary blindness and eye pain.
Pepper spray can also cause:
- burning in the throat
- wheezing
- dry cough
- shortness of breath
- gagging
- gasping
- the inability to breathe or speak
Related: Best Pepper Spray/Stun Gun Combos
New Jersey Gun Laws
New Jersey has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the US. It is one of the states who were able to completely regulate untraceable and undetectable handgun, or “ghost guns”, and is a head-on many other gun safety policies. To further reinforce New Jersey’s gun laws, lawmakers could increase funding to proven community violence intervention programs and require a handgun to be stored safely when not in use.
Who can have a gun?
(2C:39-1, et seq.; 2C:58-1, et seq.)
No person under the age of 18 shall purchase, barter or otherwise acquire a firearm, and no person under the age of 21 shall purchase, barter or otherwise acquire a handgun (unless the person is authorized to possess a handgun in connection with the performance of official duties). Permits to purchase a handgun will not be issued to any person under age 21, while Firearms Purchaser Identification Cards (FPIC) – for long guns – will not be issued to any person under age 18.
New Jersey also prohibits any person under the age of 18 from possessing, carrying, firing or using a firearm, and no person under the age of 21 from possessing, carrying, firing or using a handgun, except:
- In the actual presence or under the direct supervision of his or her parent, guardian, or a person who holds a permit to carry a handgun or a FPIC; or
- For the purpose of a military drill supervised by a recognized military organization, lawful and supervised competition or target practice, or lawful hunting when the gun possessor has a valid hunting license and has successfully completed a recognized hunter’s safety course.
Can you open carry a handgun in New Jersey? (§ 13:54-2.3)
New Jersey commonly restricts the knowing possession of a handgun in any place other than one’s own holdings or place of business without a permit to carry a handgun. New Jersey requires any person seeking to carry a handgun to apply for a permit through the NJSP or local law agency. Among other essentials, the application must be endorsed by “three reputable persons” who have known the applicant for at least three years and who attest that the applicant is “of good moral character and behavior.”
Moreover, no application shall be approved unless the applicant demonstrates that he or she:
- Is not subject to any of the disabilities set forth under state law to obtain a permit to purchase a handgun or a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card
- Is thoroughly familiar with the safe handling and use of handguns; and
- Has a justifiable need to carry a handgun.
Knife legislation in New Jersey
Knife laws in New Jersey are voluble and oftentimes hard to understand if one does not have formal legal education or training. This article takes New Jersey code and case law concerning knife possession and carries and puts it into a language that makes it easy for anyone to comprehend what is legal and what is not.
What is Legal to Own
- Balisong, or butterfly knife
- Disguised knives like lipstick knives
- Bowie knife
- Throwing stars and throwing knives
2C:39-3 – Prohibited weapons and devices
“Any person who knowingly has in his possession any gravity knife, switchblade knife, dagger, dirk, stiletto, billy, blackjack, metal knuckle, sandclub, slingshot, cestus or similar leather band studded with metal filings or razor blades imbedded in wood, ballistic knife, without any explainable lawful purpose, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.”
Restrictions on carry
New Jersey statute does not impose any restrictions on the carrying of any legal knife. However, if an accused is found carrying a gravity knife, switchblade knife, dagger, dirk, or stiletto (those knives specifically mentioned by New Jersey regulation as a weapon), he or she may be imposed with possession of a dangerous weapon if there are conditions which may lead one to believe that the knife is being possessed for an illegal motive.
Is stun gun or Taser legal in New Jersey?
New Jersey’s law on restricted weapons says that it’s a crime to possess a stun gun, defined as any weapon or device that emits an electrical charge intended to disable a person—a definition that applies to both Tasers and direct-contact stun guns. Also, New Jersey did add a law in 2018 saying that no one younger than 18 years old may possess a stun gun. But if a minor is found with one of these weapons, law authorities will simply take the device. (N.J. Admin. Code 13:54-5.8 (2019).)
h.Stun guns. Any person who knowingly has in his possession any stun gun is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. (2C:39-3)
Tactical pens are legal in New Jersey
We all know how significant it can be at times to have a pen on your person when you need it most, and not just for work or convenience. Whether you need a pen for work-related reasons or you simply want to carry a pen with you at all times just in case, it certainly couldn’t hurt to go an extra step farther. Even though most people would only ever use a pen for writing, there is still so much more a pen can do.
Tactical pens are legal to own in New Jersey which is designed to act as multipurpose tools as well. These pens can act of may many purposes such as screwdrivers, bottle openers, flashlights, and even self-defense tool. All it takes is that you educate yourself on how to use the tactical pen and the characteristics that you should look for when purchasing such a pen for yourself.