On September 10, 2019, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order as a means to bring strict adherence to state gun laws, as well as to limit the state’s business transactions with gun companies that don’t have “public safety principled” policies.  This comes after Governor Murphy signed four new gun laws earlier this summer.  To achieve these further goals, Governor Murphy detailed a five-part series of directives.  The executive order has four basic designs.

1. To prohibit the State of New Jersey from doing business with firearm related dealers and manufacturers that don’t adhere to “public safety principles.”

2. Direct the state’s Division of Purchase and Property (DPP) to ascertain which firearm and ammunition related businesses are currently, or will be eligible to conduct transactions with the state based on the “public safety principles.”

3. The state’s Treasurer is directed to make contact with financial institutions that provide services to the Treasury, and inquire if such institutions have established a code of conduct as it relates to gun safety or sales.

4. New Jersey’s Commissioner of Banking and Insurance is tasked with taking measures within her authority to prohibit (or limit) marketing or insurance products that may encourage the improper use of firearms.

I’ve tried to boil it down in my summary above, but feel free to check out the numbered steps of the executive order below:

1. The scourge of gun violence in New Jersey necessitates an
examination of whether State vendors that are manufacturers or retail
dealers of firearms adhere to public safety principles relating to
firearms.

2. For purposes of this Order, adherence to “public safety
principles related to firearms” shall include but not be limited to
mean:

a. For retail dealers of firearms, that such dealers
have policies to prevent, detect, and screen for the transfer of
firearms to straw purchasers or firearm traffickers; to prevent sales
to prohibited individuals; to protect against the theft of firearms
and ammunition; to train vendor employees and have reasonable
employment policies designed to ensure maximum compliance with the
law; to assist law enforcement in the investigation and prevention
of criminal access to guns; and to promote public safety.

b. For manufacturers of firearms, that such
manufacturers have standards for retail dealers authorized to sell
the company’s firearms that induce those dealers to adopt policies
to prevent, detect, and screen for the transfer of firearms to straw
purchasers or firearm traffickers; to prevent sales to prohibited
individuals; to protect against the theft of firearms and ammunition;
to train vendor employees and have reasonable employment policies
designed to ensure maximum compliance with the law; to assist law
enforcement in the investigation and prevention of criminal access
to guns; and to promote public safety.

3. The Division of Purchase and Property (“DPP”) is directed
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 above.

4. Upon receipt of information from such retailers and
manufacturers, DPP 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. This Order shall take effect immediately.

New Jersey Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 83 can be read in full HERE.  According to ABC7.ny.com, the State of New Jersey estimated that they spend $70 million a year on firearms, ammunition and accessories, and pays more than $1 billion in banking fees.

What do you think about Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 83?  For those working for firearm related companies, or their financial and insurance services, how do you think this will play out?