For decades, New Jersey has imposed some of the strictest gun laws in the country, and its ban on hollow point ammunition outside the home is one of the most controversial. Now, a new lawsuit is challenging the constitutionality of this restriction, and gun owners across the state are fighting back.
The case, filed by the Gun Owners of America (GOA), the Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), and the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners (CNJFO), argues that the law violates both the Second and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
As the legal battle unfolds, many are questioning whether New Jersey’s ammunition laws actually make anyone safer – or if they simply put law-abiding citizens at greater risk.
A 40-Year Ban Under Fire
According to Michael Hensley of GOA, New Jersey’s hollow point ammunition ban has been in place since 1979, making it illegal for civilians to carry or transport hollow point rounds outside their home under most circumstances. While residents are allowed to possess hollow points at home or transport them to shooting ranges, they cannot carry them for self-defense outside the home. This lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, is taking aim at that restriction.
GOA’s Stance
Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, made the organization’s stance clear:
“The government does not get to decide for Americans what kind of books they may read, what brands of firearms they may own, or what kind of ammunition they can use. New Jersey’s unconstitutional ban on hollow points for self-defense outside the home is yet another example of anti-gun politicians disarming law-abiding citizens while criminals ignore the law.”
The plaintiffs argue that there is no historical precedent for such a ban, and cite major Supreme Court cases such as Heller and Bruen as evidence that New Jersey’s restrictions are unconstitutional.
The “Safer” Ammunition Argument
One of the key points raised by gun rights YouTube channel Everyday Defense Academy in their video is that hollow point ammunition is actually safer for self-defense than standard full metal jacket (FMJ) rounds. Unlike FMJs, which can overpenetrate a target and strike unintended victims, hollow points expand upon impact, reducing the risk of collateral damage.
As Everyday Defense Academy explains:
“If you have to fire in a self-defense situation, you want your round to stop in your attacker – not keep traveling through walls, cars, or innocent bystanders.”
Logical Inconsistencies
Ironically, New Jersey law enforcement officers are allowed to carry hollow points for the exact same reason. But civilians? No such luck. This inconsistency raises serious questions: if hollow points are the preferred ammunition for law enforcement because they are more effective and safer, why are civilians prohibited from using them for the same reason?
The State of New Jersey’s Justification
So why did New Jersey ban hollow points in the first place? Troy from 2A NEWS NOW breaks it down in his recent video:
“Like most bad gun laws, it was based on fear-mongering and ignorance rather than facts. Back in the late ’70s, politicians and the media pushed the narrative that hollow point bullets were somehow more dangerous than full metal jacket rounds.”
Not About Real-world Safety
At the time, lawmakers argued that hollow points were “extra lethal” and posed an excessive risk to public safety. The term “cop killer bullets” was frequently thrown around, despite the fact that hollow points are actually less likely to pass through body armor than FMJs. The ban was never about real-world safety – it was a political move designed to appear “tough on crime” while ignoring the actual implications for self-defense.
A Law That Protects Criminals?
One of the most baffling aspects of New Jersey’s law is that it doesn’t actually prevent criminals from obtaining hollow points – it just punishes law-abiding gun owners. Stephen Mazzagatti from Martell Training Group points out that under current law, only active-duty law enforcement officers, retired officers carrying under the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA), and military personnel are allowed to carry hollow point ammunition. Regular citizens, even those with a concealed carry permit, are forced to use less effective FMJ rounds.
Mazzagatti explains:
“Law enforcement carry hollow point ammunition because it’s safer. There’s no reason why people legally carrying firearms to protect themselves and their loved ones shouldn’t be able to do the same.”
Yet despite overwhelming evidence that hollow points reduce unintended casualties, New Jersey has remained the only state in the nation to criminalize their possession outside the home.
Legal Precedent and the Bruen Decision
New Jersey’s ammunition ban faces an uphill battle in court, especially in light of the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. That decision established that gun regulations must align with the historical tradition of firearm laws in the U.S. In other words, if there’s no historical precedent for a restriction, it is likely unconstitutional.
According to Everyday Defense Academy, there is no history of states banning hollow points, and the lawsuit argues that New Jersey’s law fails to meet the Bruen standard.
Nationwide Implications
The outcome of this case could have nationwide implications. If the plaintiffs succeed, it could set a legal precedent that forces other states to reconsider their own restrictive ammunition laws. While no other states have gone as far as New Jersey, places like California and New York have imposed their own heavy-handed ammunition regulations.
An Uncertain Future
Gun rights advocates are optimistic, but they also recognize that New Jersey will fight this case tooth and nail. The state has long resisted any loosening of its gun laws, and even when it loses in court, it often finds ways to delay or circumvent rulings.
Still, as Troy from 2A NEWS NOW puts it:
“If this lawsuit succeeds, it could be the first domino to fall in a larger battle against unconstitutional restrictions across the country.”
For gun owners in New Jersey, the stakes couldn’t be higher. With over 59,000 concealed carry permits issued in the state, the ban on hollow points affects thousands of legally armed citizens who just want the best ammunition available to protect themselves and their families.
A Test for the Second Amendment
New Jersey’s hollow point ban is being challenged at a time when courts are increasingly striking down overreaching gun laws. With legal heavyweights like GOA, GOF, and CNJFO leading the charge, there is a real chance that this lawsuit could overturn one of the nation’s most unjustifiable firearm restrictions.
At its core, this case is about whether a state government can arbitrarily decide what tools citizens can use for self-defense – and whether the courts will hold New Jersey accountable for restricting a fundamental constitutional right.
As the legal battle unfolds, gun owners across the country will be watching closely. If New Jersey’s hollow point ban falls, it could mark the beginning of a broader rollback of unconstitutional gun laws nationwide.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.