South Jersey Laws
Prohibited Weapons and Devices
New Jersey Statutes Annotated 2C:39-3: Prohibited weapons and devices


A person may not knowingly possess:

  • Any destructive device;
  • Any sawed-off shotgun;
  • Any firearm silencer;
  • Any firearm which has been defaced, except an antique firearm;
  • 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, or ballistic knife, without any explainable lawful purpose;
  • Any stun gun;
  • Handcuffs under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for such lawful uses as handcuffs may have.

A person may not knowingly possess:
  • Hollow nose or dum-dum bullets;
    • Other than a law enforcement officer or persons engaged in activities where they may legally have such items;
    • Body armor breaching or penetrating ammunition;
      • Other than a collector of firearms or ammunition as curios or relics and who has in his possession a valid Collector of Curios and Relics License issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
    • A collector may possess not more than three examples of each distinctive variation of the ammunition described above. A distinctive variation includes a different head stamp, composition, design, or color.


    Third degree crime
    This constitutes a crime of the third degree when it involves:

    • Any destructive device;
    • Any sawed off shotgun.

    Third degree crimes are punishable by:
    • Imprisonment for three to five years;
    • A fine of up to $15,000; or
    • Both.

    Fourth degree crime
    This constitutes a crime of the fourth degree when it involves:

    • Any fire arm silencer;
    • Any firearm which has been defaced, except antique firearms;
    • 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;
    • Any ballistic knife;
    • Any stun gun;
    • Any large capacity ammunition magazine unless the person has registered an assault firearm and the magazine is maintained and used in connection with participation in competitive shooting matches sanctioned by the Director of Civilian Marksmanship of the United States Department of the Army without any explainable lawful purpose;
    • Any hollow nose or dum-dum bullets;
    • Any body armor breaching or penetrating ammunition.

    Fourth degree crimes are punishable by:
    • Imprisonment for up to eighteen months;
    • A fine of up to $10,000; or
    • Both.

    Disorderly persons offense
    This constitutes a disorderly persons offense when it involves:
    • Handcuffs

    Disorderly persons offenses are punishable by:
    • A term of imprisonment for up to six months;
    • A fine of up to $1,000; or
    • Both.
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