In a bold move that could ripple across the state and even the nation, Englishtown, New Jersey, just became the first town to eliminate its $150 municipal fee for handgun carry permits. As reported by NJ.com’s Colleen Murphy, the Englishtown Borough Council passed the resolution on June 11, effectively refunding most of the state-mandated $200 permit fee. The change, pushed forward by Mayor Daniel Francisco and backed by the New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate (NJFOS), is being hailed as a victory for constitutional rights and fiscal fairness.
The Breakdown: Why It Mattered
Under New Jersey law, applicants for a handgun carry permit must pay $200 – $150 of which goes to the municipality, and $50 to the State Police. This fee hike came after the Supreme Court’s 2022 NYSRPA v. Bruen ruling struck down New York’s “proper cause” requirement for concealed carry permits. In response, New Jersey lawmakers passed a new gun control bill, which among other things, dramatically increased permit costs. Before the law, the fee was just $20. The state claimed the new fees were necessary to cover updated systems, background checks, and administration. Critics, however, saw it differently.
Mayor Francisco’s Stand Against State Overreach
Mayor Daniel Francisco, who proposed the Englishtown refund policy, told News2A that he sees it as part of his duty to protect residents from government overreach. “I’ve been a plaintiff in my own federal cases where I’ve experienced first-hand the abuses of the State,” he said. “It’s my job as a steward of my residents to protect them in any way possible from those same abuses.” Francisco emphasized that the new policy is more than symbolic – it’s a direct pushback against what he calls unconstitutional taxation on the right to self-defense.
Grassroots Firepower: NJFOS Steps In
The New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate, founded in 2024, played a major role in getting the Englishtown resolution passed. NJFOS Director Joe LoPorto spoke at the public hearing, where he made a passionate argument that no constitutional right should come with a financial barrier. He warned the $200 fee policy disproportionately impacts low-income and BIPOC communities. “We would never hide other core constitutional rights, like the right to free speech or religion, behind a massive paywall,” LoPorto said, as quoted in both NJ.com and News2A.
Guns & Gadgets: A National Spotlight
Jared Yanis of Guns & Gadgets, a popular Second Amendment YouTube channel, praised Englishtown’s move in a recent video. “This isn’t just about money,” Yanis said. “It’s a direct challenge to Trenton’s overreach.” He noted that the $200 fee, renewed every two years, creates an ongoing burden on law-abiding citizens. Yanis pointed out that while the state mandates municipalities collect the fee, it doesn’t control what they do with the funds. Englishtown used that opening to give residents their money back – a move Yanis called “a gamechanger.”
Backed by National Advocacy Groups
Englishtown didn’t make this decision in a vacuum. According to NJ.com and Guns & Gadgets, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) submitted a letter of endorsement. Its chairman, Alan Gottlieb, applauded the resolution, calling it “true leadership” and criticizing the original fee as unconstitutional. He argued that using steep permit costs as a backdoor form of gun control unfairly targets working-class and minority communities. For him and others, Englishtown’s vote sends a powerful message.
Resolution 2025-101 and What It Means
The newly passed Resolution No. 2025-101 authorizes refunds for all applicants who paid the municipal fee on or after January 1, 2025. To get their refund, residents must show proof of payment and confirmation that their application was processed through the Borough. According to News2A, the council passed the measure by a 4-1 vote, with one member absent. The policy took effect immediately and could save applicants up to 75% of the total cost of a handgun carry permit.
The Bigger Picture: A Blueprint for Other Towns
Mayor Francisco hopes Englishtown becomes a role model for other municipalities. He urged local leaders across New Jersey and beyond to “emulate this groundbreaking resolution.” As more towns express interest, including ones in Atlantic, Gloucester, Sussex, and Hunterdon counties, the idea could spread. LoPorto confirmed that NJFOS is working through grassroots outreach and direct lobbying to circulate the resolution statewide. If successful, this could spark a wave of local resistance to fee-based restrictions on constitutional rights.
How We Got Here: The Fallout From Bruen
The Supreme Court’s Bruen decision reshaped gun law across the country. By striking down subjective “justifiable need” clauses, it forced may-issue states like New Jersey to comply with shall-issue rules. But instead of simplifying access, some states hiked up fees and added bureaucratic hurdles. Critics saw this as an attempt to discourage carry permit applications. Guns & Gadgets called this tactic “a deterrence, not a safeguard,” and warned that these policies clash with the very spirit of the Bruen ruling.
Mayor’s Legacy: Rights and Revitalization
Francisco, who took office in February 2024 after running as a Second Amendment purist, isn’t just working on gun policy. He’s also overseeing what he calls a “development renaissance” for Englishtown’s Main Street. Two new gun shops are already planning to open, a sign that firearm-friendly policies may also help small-town economies. Francisco was the first person in Monmouth County to receive a carry permit under the new law and was a named plaintiff in Francisco v. Cooke, a major federal case challenging state gun restrictions.
Why This Matters
What’s striking here isn’t just that Englishtown refunded a fee. It’s that a small town found a creative way to stand up to state overreach – by using the law’s own structure against itself. In a time when many feel their rights are under attack, seeing a local government take proactive steps to defend liberty is powerful. Whether you’re pro-gun or not, this case raises an important question: Should core rights depend on how much money someone has?
Fees Should Never Be a Barrier to Rights
Englishtown’s move makes one thing clear – there’s a difference between public safety measures and punitive policies. Charging hundreds of dollars for a permit to carry isn’t just an administrative step – it’s a paywall. And when government fees are used to chill constitutional behavior, they stop being fees and start becoming filters. That’s what makes this story so fascinating: it’s a reminder that change doesn’t always come from the top. Sometimes, it begins with one town saying, “No more.”
A Message Beyond New Jersey
As Guns & Gadgets host Jared Yanis put it, this resolution is a “roadmap” for towns across America. Whether it’s New Jersey, California, or Illinois, states where lawmakers often push back on gun rights, local governments still have room to act. Englishtown proved that with enough resolve and a little legal creativity, even a small town can lead a national conversation. The next step is whether others will follow. The eyes of Second Amendment supporters and opponents are now watching closely.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.