Mercer Times

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has initiated civil lawsuits against two licensed firearms retailers in New Jersey, accusing them of selling gun-related products to undercover investigators without verifying the buyers' legal eligibility to possess firearms. The stores involved are Butch’s Gun World in Vineland and Point Blank Guns and Ammo LLC in East Hanover. These sales included transactions involving a 1,000-round case of AR-15 rifle ammunition for cash.

The lawsuits aim to enforce compliance with regulations designed to prevent individuals who cannot lawfully possess firearms from acquiring gun-related products. Such individuals may include those with prior felony convictions, people under domestic violence restraining orders, those on terrorist watch lists, and others previously confined for mental health disorders.

“Keeping guns out of the wrong hands is a critical public safety priority," stated Attorney General Platkin. He emphasized the importance of New Jersey's gun industry adopting measures to prevent sales to unauthorized individuals.

Ravi Ramanathan, Director of the Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement Office (SAFE), expressed disappointment that two gun shops were found selling cases of AR-15 ammunition for cash without verifying the legal status of the buyers. "Almost a year ago, with our first actions under the 2022 legislation," said Ramanathan, "We were disappointed to find not one, but two, gun shops selling cases of AR-15 ammunition for cash without first verifying that the buyers can lawfully possess firearms."

Investigations earlier this year revealed multiple instances where these stores sold ammunition and handgun magazines without asking for identification or permits from first-time customers. Notably, large quantities of lethal ammunition were sold for cash without apparent steps taken to ensure compliance with legal restrictions.

The cases are being handled by Deputy Attorneys General Jonathan Mangel, Giancarlo Piccinini, Loren Miller, and Honors Law Clerk Andrea Cavazos under Assistant Attorney General David Leit's supervision within the Division of Law’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group.

The SAFE Office was established by Attorney General Platkin in 2022 as a pioneering initiative focused on holding the firearms industry accountable under new public nuisance legislation related to gun violence.