Murphy Gun Safety Order Cracks Down on Gun Makers, Retailers, Banks

On Sep 10, 2019

Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 83 intended to use the state’s purchasing and regulatory powers to hold gun manufacturers, retailers, and the financial institutions that provide services to those entities accountable for promoting gun safety principles.

Under the EO, the New Jersey Department of Treasury, the Division of Purchase and Property, and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance will promote responsible gun safety practices for gun vendors and financial institutions providing services to the state, and take action against insurance policies that encourage firearm use.

Among the directives, Governor Murphy’s executive order states:

• The Division of Purchase and Property is to issue a request, within 30 days, to all retail dealers or manufacturers of firearms that currently sell ammunition and/or firearms to the State to ascertain whether vendor practices, where applicable, adhere to the applicable public safety principles related to firearms listed in the order.
• Upon receipt of information from such retailers and manufacturers, the Division of Purchase and Property shall determine whether and how to ensure that any prospective bid solicitation for ammunition and firearms include a requirement that each vendor, prior to award, certify adherence to public safety principles relating to firearms as defined in this order.
• The Treasurer is instructed to issue a request, within 30 days, to financial institutions providing services to the Department of Treasury, or any of its divisions, offices or agencies, to disclose whether such institutions have adopted any code of conduct or principles related to gun safety or responsible sales of firearms.
• The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, within 30 days, is instructed to take all appropriate action within her authority to prohibit and/or limit the sale, procurement, marketing, or distribution of insurance products that may serve to encourage the improper use of firearms.

The order will take effect immediately.

“New Jersey has committed to a whole-of-government approach to tackle gun violence,” said Governor Murphy. “I have signed comprehensive, commonsense gun safety and gun-violence intervention legislation, and now, under this executive order, my Administration is committed to making our communities safer by aiming to do business with gun dealers that have adopted best practices to reduce gun violence. We want those who do business with New Jersey to share our values and be committed to ending the scourge of gun violence in our communities.”

According to State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio, “The executive order being signed today will ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used wisely to procure goods and services from companies that act responsibly when it comes to firearms and ammunition and to create an opportunity for local and county governments who want to follow our lead.”

In March 2019, Governor Murphy joined the ‘Do Not Stand Idly By’ campaign’s demand letter seeking information from gun manufacturers on their practices to protect public safety. The goal of the campaign is to significantly reduce firearms-related deaths, injuries, and crimes in the United States and to modernize and stabilize the gun industry. This campaign requires signatories to issue a Request for Information (RFI) during the firearm procurement process to the State’s gun vendors. The RFI asks those vendors to outline the policies that they use to enhance and promote firearm safety. Today’s executive order builds on this pledge.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 83, click here.

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