N.J. Stat. » Title 2C — THE NEW JERSEY CODE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
New Jersey Statutes

N.J. Stat. § 2C:39-10 (2026)

Violation of the regulatory provisions relating to firearms; false representation in applications

✓ current as of May 2026
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2C:39-10. Violation of the regulatory provisions relating to firearms; false representation in applications.

a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) and paragraph (4) of this subsection, any person who knowingly or recklessly violates the regulatory provisions relating to manufacturing or wholesaling of firearms N.J.S.2C:58-1, retailing of firearms N.J.S.2C:58-2, permits to purchase certain firearms N.J.S.2C:58-3, permits to carry certain firearms N.J.S.2C:58-4, licenses to procure machine guns or assault firearms N.J.S.2C:58-5, or incendiary or tracer ammunition N.J.S.2C:58-10, except acts which are punishable under section N.J.S.2C:58-5 or section N.J.S.2C:58-2, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

(2) A licensed dealer who knowingly violates the provisions of subparagraph (d) of paragraph (5) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:58-2 is a disorderly person.

(3) If, upon review, a law enforcement agency determines that a licensed dealer has sold, transferred, assigned, or otherwise disposed of an inordinate number of firearms and that licensed dealer knew, or should have known, that the firearms would be used in the commission of a crime or would be transferred to a person in order for the firearms to be used for an unlawful purpose, that dealer's license shall, after a hearing, be permanently revoked.

(4) A licensed dealer who sells or transfers a firearm to a person when the dealer knows or reasonably should know that person intends to sell, transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of that firearm to a person who is disqualified from possessing a firearm under State or federal law is guilty of a crime of the second degree. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the sentence imposed for a conviction under this subsection shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 18 months, during which the defendant shall be ineligible for parole, provided, however, if the firearm was used in the commission of a crime, the sentence imposed under this subsection shall include a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of three years, during which the defendant shall be ineligible for parole. Further, a person convicted under this subsection shall be permanently disqualified from holding a retail license under N.J.S.2C:58-2. As used in this paragraph, “reasonably should know” means that a person reasonably should know a fact when, under the circumstances, a person of reasonable prudence and competence would ascertain or know the fact.

(5) A person who is disqualified from possessing a firearm under State or federal law who knowingly solicits, persuades, encourages, or entices a licensed dealer or other person to sell, give, transfer, or assign a firearm to the disqualified person under circumstances which the disqualified person knows would violate State or federal law is guilty of a crime of the third degree. Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-8 or any other law, a conviction under this subsection shall not merge with a conviction for any other criminal offense, and the court shall impose separate sentences upon a violation of this subsection and any other criminal offense.

b. Any person who knowingly violates the regulatory provisions relating to notifying the authorities of possessing certain items of explosives N.J.S.2C:58-7, or of certain wounds N.J.S.2C:58-8 is a disorderly person.

c. Any person who gives or causes to be given any false information, or signs a fictitious name or address, in applying for a firearms purchaser identification card, a permit to purchase a handgun, a permit to carry a handgun, a permit to possess a machine gun, a permit to possess an assault firearm, or in completing the certificate or any other instrument required by law in purchasing or otherwise acquiring delivery of any rifle, shotgun, handgun, machine gun, or assault firearm or any other firearm, is guilty of a crime of the third degree.

d. Any person who gives or causes to be given any false information in registering an assault firearm pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-12) or in certifying that an assault firearm was rendered inoperable pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-13) commits a crime of the fourth degree.

e. Any person who knowingly sells, gives, transfers, assigns, or otherwise disposes of a firearm to a person who is under the age of 18 years, except as permitted in section 14 of P.L.1979, c.179 (C.2C:58-6.1), is guilty of a crime of the second degree. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the sentence imposed for a conviction under this subsection shall include a mandatory minimum five-year term of imprisonment, during which the defendant shall be ineligible for parole.

f. Unless the recipient is authorized to possess the handgun in connection with the performance of official duties under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:39-6, any person who knowingly sells, gives, transfers, assigns, or otherwise disposes of a handgun to a person who is under the age of 21 years, except as permitted in section 14 of P.L.1979, c.179 (C.2C:58-6.1), is guilty of a crime of the third degree.

g. Any person who knowingly gives or causes to be given any false information or knowingly engages in any other fraudulent conduct in applying for an exemption to purchase more than one handgun in a 30-day period in violation of the provisions of section 4 of P.L.2009, c.186 (C.2C:58-3.4) shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree. The presumption of nonimprisonment set forth in N.J.S.2C:44-1 shall not apply to persons convicted under the provisions of this subsection.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 2012–2024 · leading case: Hightower v. City of Boston, 693 F.3d 61 (1st Cir. 2012).
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Hightower v. City of Boston, 693 F.3d 61 (1st Cir. 2012). “”); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:39-10(c) ("Any person who gives or causes to be given any false information .”
State of New Jersey v. Gregory Garcia (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2024). · cites it 3× “" On June 15, 2018, a search warrant was issued for defendant's residence based on suspected violations of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(c) (giving false information in connection with an application for a permit to purchase handgun) and N.”
State of New Jersey Vs. Lavar Reynolds (15-08-0671, Passaic Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2021). · cites it 2× “PER CURIAM Defendant Lavar Reynolds appeals from a June 24, 2019 judgment of conviction after pleading guilty to fourth-degree violation of a firearms regulations, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(a). Defendant's guilty plea preserved the right to appeal denial of his motions to dismiss the…”
In the Matter of the Appeal of the Denial of R.W.T.'s Application, Etc. (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2023). · cites it 2× “[N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(c) (emphasis added).] Although we need not look beyond the plain text of the falsification disqualification statute, we note that invoking FPIC/PPH disqualification when any falsification is tendered is consistent with the application's underlying function,…”
Garcia v. Knapp (D.N.J. 2020). · cites it 2× “The Garcias also argue the Prosecutor’s Office engaged in a variety of misconduct, such as fraudulently procuring a search warrant, failing to present exculpatory evidence to a grand jury, 2 The Court notes that N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:39-10 makes it a crime to make a false…”
Thomas v. Johnson (D.N.J. 2022). · cites it 2× “A § 2C:39-4a, and one count of violating the regulatory provisions regarding the purchase of firearms, a crime of the fourth degree, in violation of N.”
State of New Jersey Vs. Randolph Mcleod (13-07-0984 & 13-07-0991, Middlesex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017). “2C:58-3 and/or 2C:58-4, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10 (count twenty); and fourth- degree hindering, N.”
Almeen Palmer Vs. New Jersey State Parole Bd. (new Jersey State Parole Bd.) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017). “2C:29-3(b) (count nineteen); third-degree selling, transferring a gun to a minor, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(e) (count twenty- two); fourth-degree soliciting and recruiting to join a street gang, N.”
State of New Jersey Vs. Najee Croom (15-02-0089, Somerset Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “Defendant thereafter entered into a negotiated agreement with the State through which he pled guilty to an amended charge of a fourth degree violation of firearms regulations under N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(a)(1) and fourth degree possession of hollow points bullets under N.”
State of New Jersey Vs. Artic M. Rogers (11-03-0401, 11-03-0405, Middlesex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “11-03-0401, and knowingly violating firearms regulations, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(a)(1), on Indictment No.”
State of New Jersey Vs. R.A. (09-10-1036, Burlington Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018). “A-4104-16T3 4 Following extensive negotiations, defendant pled guilty to two disorderly persons offenses: count two as amended to a firearms regulatory violation, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(b), and count four as amended to disorderly persons contempt, N.”
State of New Jersey Vs. P.C. (14-10-2429, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018). “In return for the plea, the State downgraded the third-degree possession of the sawed-off shotgun to a fourth-degree regulatory violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(a). The State recommended a sentence of non-custodial probation conditioned upon the defendant's continued participation…”
Show all 20 citing cases →
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:39-10(a) — 8 cases
State of New Jersey Vs. P.C. (14-10-2429, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018). “In return for the plea, the State downgraded the third-degree possession of the sawed-off shotgun to a fourth-degree regulatory violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(a). The State recommended a sentence of non-custodial probation conditioned upon the defendant's continued participation…”
State of New Jersey Vs. Jose Carrion (15-08-1788, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020).
State of New Jersey Vs. Richard L. Highlander (88-06-1443, Atl. Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020).
State of New Jersey Vs. Lavar Reynolds (15-08-0671, Passaic Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2021). “PER CURIAM Defendant Lavar Reynolds appeals from a June 24, 2019 judgment of conviction after pleading guilty to fourth-degree violation of a firearms regulations, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(a). Defendant's guilty plea preserved the right to appeal denial of his motions to dismiss the…”
State of New Jersey Vs. Earl Johnson (16-08-0654 & 17-09-0838, Passaic Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2021).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:39-10(a)(1) — 4 cases
State of New Jersey Vs. Najee Croom (15-02-0089, Somerset Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “Defendant thereafter entered into a negotiated agreement with the State through which he pled guilty to an amended charge of a fourth degree violation of firearms regulations under N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(a)(1) and fourth degree possession of hollow points bullets under N.”
State of New Jersey Vs. Artic M. Rogers (11-03-0401, 11-03-0405, Middlesex Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “11-03-0401, and knowingly violating firearms regulations, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(a)(1), on Indictment No.”
C.N. Vs. M.F. (fd-20-1189-13, Union Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020).
State of New Jersey Vs. Lavar Reynolds (15-08-0671, Passaic Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2021). “PER CURIAM Defendant Lavar Reynolds appeals from a June 24, 2019 judgment of conviction after pleading guilty to fourth-degree violation of a firearms regulations, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(a). Defendant's guilty plea preserved the right to appeal denial of his motions to dismiss the…”
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:39-10(b) — 1 case
State of New Jersey Vs. R.A. (09-10-1036, Burlington Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018). “A-4104-16T3 4 Following extensive negotiations, defendant pled guilty to two disorderly persons offenses: count two as amended to a firearms regulatory violation, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(b), and count four as amended to disorderly persons contempt, N.”
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:39-10(c) — 4 cases
Hightower v. City of Boston, 693 F.3d 61 (1st Cir. 2012). “”); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:39-10(c) ("Any person who gives or causes to be given any false information .”
State of New Jersey v. Gregory Garcia (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2024). “" On June 15, 2018, a search warrant was issued for defendant's residence based on suspected violations of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(c) (giving false information in connection with an application for a permit to purchase handgun) and N.”
In the Matter of the Appeal of the Denial of R.W.T.'s Application, Etc. (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2023). “[N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(c) (emphasis added).] Although we need not look beyond the plain text of the falsification disqualification statute, we note that invoking FPIC/PPH disqualification when any falsification is tendered is consistent with the application's underlying function,…”
Kendrick v. Grewal (D.N.J. 2022).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:39-10(e) — 1 case
Almeen Palmer Vs. New Jersey State Parole Bd. (new Jersey State Parole Bd.) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017). “2C:29-3(b) (count nineteen); third-degree selling, transferring a gun to a minor, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(e) (count twenty- two); fourth-degree soliciting and recruiting to join a street gang, N.”
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