A federal judge on Monday blocked more of New Jersey’s gun carry law from being enforced, less than a month after she blocked other sections of the newly-enacted law, Politico reports. The order by U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb temporarily lifts the blanket prohibition on carrying guns in public parks, on beaches and in casinos. A prior order by Bumb blocked sections of the law that prohibited guns from being carried in places where alcohol is served, in public libraries or museums, entertainment facilities and on private property where the owner does not give explicit permission. It also blocked restrictions on how guns are carried in vehicles. The earlier order remains in effect.
The new law, which Gov. Phil Murphy signed in December, revamped the state’s gun carry application process and requirements, and established “sensitive places” where guns could not be carried. The law was in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June that drastically expanded the scope of who could carry guns outside the home. A legal challenge was filed immediately after Murphy signed the measure. New York enacted a similar law prohibiting where guns can be carried, and that law is also the subject of ongoing litigation. Gun rights groups did not get everything they sought from Bumb. For example, the judge said the plaintiffs did not have standing to challenge the prohibition of guns being carried in zoos, medical facilities, airports and on movie sets. Gun rights groups also wanted her to block the prohibition of carrying guns on playgrounds. Bumb denied that request, declaring that playgrounds were analogous to schools. Challenges to those provisions of the law are expected to resurface later.