K2RRX de AC2NX

Phil:

Some discussion about the use of antenna launchers came up recently in consideration of NJ's strict gun laws. So I did some research to determine whether or not your launcher would be considered a firearm under NJ statutes. I came up with the following documents that loosely indicate your device should be exempt. However, like the cell phone law, not all law enforcement personnel have the statutes memorized. So it might be advisable to carry copies of these with you, with the applicable excerpts highlighted, when you plan to use your launcher.

Here are links to what I found:

N.J.S.A.2C:39-1

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2013/title-2c/section-2c-39-1

the operative words in section f being, to qualify as a firearm, the device must eject a "solid projectable ball ..." "with sufficient force to injure a person." As I recall, yours employs a hollow plastic bolus.

NJ State police FAQs

https://nj.gov/njsp/firearms/firearms-faqs.shtml

item 24 re: airsofts - the operative words being "contain a hollow cavity which do not conform to a solid projectile."

NJ Air Gun FAQs

https://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/airgun_faq.pdf

Item 6 sites an air gun with "a muzzle velocity of at least 600 fps." as subject to firearm restrictions. Your air-powered launcher produces a muzzle velocity of only about 100 ft/second to launch your hollow bolus to a height of 150'.

Another precaution we might take for the future would be to get ourselves firearms permits. I'll look into this after FD.