Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Whats the deal with carring hollow points in NJ. I was told that out of state LEO's are not allowed to carry hollow points if we are passing through. My job requires me to carry hollow points on and off duty.

Jersey has a lot of stupid laws like that. I am not sure about them restricting your carry if it is a department approved BUG and department approved ammo, but who knows. being a fed, I never paid attention to their stupid firearm laws when I lived there.

Call the State AG and ask.

Here is the deal:

If you are not a NJ local, NJ state or federal LEO, and you are carrying hollow points in your weapon, AND OFF-DUTY, it is against NJ state law. NJ has (4) cases of arrested LEO's from out of state for having hollow-points.

If you are here on official business then you are covered. But carrying under HR218 you are not.

Keep in mind with the 4 cases in NJ, they were "caught" based on the following circumstances:
a) One was drunk on the boardwalk and pulled such during am altercation.
b) One was drunk at a concert and gave security a hard time when they told him he as cut off from drinking or had to lock it up in their office at a major event.
c) One was brandishing his weapon during a road rage incident which led to a traffic stop.
d) One was being car-jacked/mugged and pulled his weapon, fired, called 911, secured the scene, provided medical aid and was 100% cooperative. Though it does not fit the profile, later it was discovered the perp was a cousin of a deputy chief of the local PD.

Keep in mind in NJ you have your local departments and your state troppers. You get in a shooting, the agency does not investigates! In NJ, each county prosecutors office has a staff of investigators who will investigate and decide if you get charged or not. All depends on the county prosecutors and their investigators. Some are better than others.

There is a fix in the update to HR218 that is pending a Congressional panel. Once passed (and rumor is late 2010), it states you will be able to carry any ammo your agency approves of.

Welcome to the communist state of NJ. I have been here 2 years now and asked once by a State Trooper if I had hollow-points. I stopped in my GOV, activated my light and called 911on the side of the NJTP as a car began to smolder. I used my gov issued fire extinguisher and put out a motoroists car fire before it became an issue. He knew I was a LEO by my car and visible gun, cuffs, badge, etc... After learning I was a fed he asked if I was on-duty or off. When I inquired why he wanted to let me know if I was off-duty I better not have hollow-points because that was an offense. I asked him how long he was a Trooper. He said one year. I told him there will be a day he is rolling on the Turnpike with a perp or perps and his attitude, logic and next few words from his mouth would determine if I stop and help or drive by and call 911. He thought about and said "never mind, my mistake."

If you won't act stupid with your gun, keep them in. If you are doing anything stupid or questionable, leave it at home.

he needs a education

Thank you Joey for that great information. I would have never thought any state had such a STUPID law. I will put New Jersey on my list of states to never visit! Be Safe.