“Finally, because retired law enforcement officers have training and experience that makes them different from ordinary citizens, the law’s exemption that permits them to possess magazines that can hold more than ten rounds does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause,” the court argued.
2. I might have missed something, during all 1,000+ times that I read the 2nd Amendment, but I’m pretty sure that there is no “training and experience” requirement that modifies the “shall not be infringed” clause in the 2nd.
“This decision is plainly wrong and upholds New Jersey’s unconstitutional law turning one million honest citizens into felons for keeping property obtained legally that could be used for defending their lives,” said New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs’ executive director Scott Bach. “The decision will be further appealed.”
I left NJ 18 years ago this month. The furniture, books, etc. went with the movers, but my guns, ammo, etc. went with my wife and I (we’d been married for about 18 months at that point, and she didn’t know much about guns other than that I had them). As we passed the “Welcome to Delaware” sign on the Delaware Memorial Bridge, I turned to my wife and said, “Now that we’re over the state line, you don’t have to worry about bailing me out of prison.” Her jaw dropped, and she asked me why. I explained the NJ law against magazines that were “too big.” She then asked me how many I had. I told her, “Well, about 18 inches behind my ass is roughly 200 years worth in Rahway State Prison.” She turned white as a sheet and didn’t say anything for about 30 seconds (which, I promise you, is very uncharacteristic of her). She then asked if there were laws like that in Texas, to which I replied, “No, Texas is in America.” I didn’t even mention the roughly 1,000 rounds of hollow point ammo that was also in the back of the vehicle...I’m pretty sure that she’d have stroked out on me if I had told her that those were worth a nice couple thousand years in the Graybar Hotel. :>)
FYI, I went there a couple summers back for a family reunion, to visit a few friends and tour NYC with the wife and kids. I brought along a Smith J-frame, as it was legal in every state along the way except Maryland and NJ. I unloaded it and buried it and the ammo under a bunch of suitcases while in those states, but I’m very well aware that I broke NJ law by bringing in a handgun and the ammo...and I simply didn’t (and don’t) give a damn. They’d have also had to violate the 4th Amendment to get to the gun and ammo, and I’d have had a nice lawsuit for deprivation of rights under color of law (but, make no mistake, I was happier to just be left alone).
Sad to hear that NJ is becoming an even worse shithole than when I left. It seems like the only worthwhile thing there is the orchards and the roadside farm stands.
Yep.
“Finally, because blue people have experience that makes them different from ordinary red people, the law’s exemption that permits them to retain free speech does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause,” the court argued.
Orchards and roadside farm stands are also available in the rest of America so hopefully you're no missing out on much.
I hope to be out of the People's Socialist Democratic Republic of MD in the near future, it's becoming too much like NJ, NY and the rest of the northeast.