⭕ Gov. Phil Murphy continues to fight against the right to carry a firearm

⭕ New Map shows where the most carry permits have been filed

⭕ Murphy and AG urge all businesses to create 'gun free zones'

Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin are urging New Jersey business owners to create thousands of new 'gun free zones.'

Murphy and Platkin have been working hard to undermine the so-called Bruen decision that lifted most restrictions surrounding an individual's right to carry a firearm.

Lawmakers have already passed a series of bans that prohibit carrying a firearm at entertainment venues, public gatherings, schools, healthcare facilities, government buildings, and any establishment that serves alcohol.

The new initiative encourages businesses to ban guns from their property.

"No matter what you’ve heard," reads a notice on the attorney general's website, "Owners of public establishments CAN display signs prohibiting guns on and around their property."

READ MORE: Strict concealed carry restrictions remain in New Jersey

Platkin has announced his office is making 'Gun Free Zone' decals available to any business that wants one.

"The decals can help ensure the increase in people carrying guns doesn’t lead to a higher rate of shootings and gun deaths like those experienced in states with less-protective gun laws than New Jersey," Platkin said, "New Jerseyans should be able to go about their daily lives without the risk of senseless gun violence. The simple placement of these decals can offer some sense of security to customers and give business owners a means to clearly state their policy."

You can request a decal and flyer from the NJOAG website HERE.

"As we continue to adjust to the reality we face after the Bruen decision and fight against the consistent attacks from the gun lobby to undermine commonsense gun safety legislation, our mission is to make New Jersey a safer place to live, work, go to school, and raise a family,” said Governor Phil Murphy in a statement.

Gun permit disclosure

AG Platkin also announced a new dashboard that shows where people are applying for permits to carry a firearm.

Similar to New Jersey's sex offender registry, the dashboard allows users to search by geographic locations and other factors to see where applications for gun permits are being filed and granted.

The database does not reveal an individual's name, location or other personal data of permits applicants.

"Transparency is a key component to enhancing public safety. The data available in this dashboard allows its users to gain an understanding of where in New Jersey the applications for permits to carry firearms is increasing,” said Platkin in a news release.

READ MORE: Avoid these common mistakes when filling out a gun permit application

Top areas for gun permits in New Jersey

According to the attorney general, there were approximately 35,000 permit-to-carry applications submitted since December 2019 through the end of February 2024. The majority were submitted since the Bruen decision in 2022.

The biggest number of new applications have come from residents in Bergen, Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Each county has processed more than 3,000 new permits each.

The two municipalities that have seen the largest volume of new carry permits are Newark, in Essex County, and Toms River in Ocean County.

Individuals can access the state's new database HERE.

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