Does New Jersey allow you to defend yourself or to defend your family from an attack ?
Yeah, but with what? You can carry pepper spray or a knife with a blade less than 5”, but the beast in question seized our dog and ran away with it, and since I had no knowledge that it existed, I was carrying neither. As for guns, the Brady Campaign gives NJ an A-, that tells you something. Gun carry permits are very, very difficult to get unless you are a former police officer. and defending yourself with deadly force is illegal even on your own property unless you are cornered.
It’s a great state if you want to be a victim (or a criminal).