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New Jersey's attorney general has agreed to lift a statewide ban on civilians buying stun guns, according to court filings.
( File photo)
TRENTON -- New Jersey's attorney general has formally agreed to lift the state's ban on stun guns as part of a legal settlement with a group of gun rights advocates.
A federal judge on Tuesday filed a consent order closing the suit and directing the state to create new regulations "consistent with public safety and the Second Amendment" within 180 days.
Under current regulations, only police officers are permitted to carry conducted energy devices, commonly known as stun guns or Tasers. A New Jersey man, Mark Cheeseman, and the New Jersey Second Amendment Society challenged the law last year, claiming it violated his right to bear arms.
New Jersey is among a handful of states with laws on the books banning civilians from owning stun guns.
State Attorney General Christopher Porrino conceded in court filings last year the law "would likely not pass constitutional muster" in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that threw out a similar law in Massachusetts.
Reached by phone, Second Amendment Society President Alexander Roubian called the ruling a win for gun rights advocates.
He said banning the purchase of the electronic defense devices should be limited only to minors, those with serious criminal backgrounds or those deemed mentally unfit by a judge.
The state had requested the grace period to draft new regulations "to prevent the problematic situation where stun guns would instantaneously go from being completely banned to being completely unregulated," according to court documents.
Col. Rick Fuentes, the head of the State Police, will have to redraw the rules.
A spokesman for Porrino did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment.
S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.