Howell—in Monmouth County, New Jersey—joined 11 other Garden State municipalities in late November when it announced it would also be refunding a significant portion of the fee paid by residents for a permit to carry. In 2022 New Jersey increased the cost of its permits to $200, with $150 going to the municipality/borough in which the applicant lives. The remaining $50 goes to the state police.
Englishtown Borough, NJ, was the first to join the refund movement, which is being spearheaded by NRA, the New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate and other defenders of the Second Amendment. “In my capacity as mayor, it’s my job to protect my residents, including from the abuse of the state,” Englishtown Mayor Daniel Francisco told NJ.com after council members passed a resolution refunding the $150 directly to residents. “I introduced this proposal and lobbied my council to support it because no natural right should be held hostage to a paywall.”
“Those high fees were a result of New Jersey’s response bill to the 2022 landmark decision in the NRA-backed case of NYSRPA v. Bruen,” NRA-ILA notes. “NJ’s so-called ‘carry killer bill’ that was passed in December of 2022 quadrupled those fees from the pre-Bruen levels.”
More than $125,000 has been eliminated in unconstitutional fees, per year, thanks to the growing list of towns. Cumulatively, roughly 200,000 people live within their municipal borders.
“No longer will our residents be subject to the tyrannical $150 municipal carry permit fees prescribed by 2C:58-4,” Mayor Francisco posted on his X account in June. “Englishtown respects those who choose to carry, and stands in solidarity with them by now offering a full refund of the statutory municipal fee.”
New Jersey towns now refunding all or a portion of that fee now include: Beachwood, Butler, Cresskill, Dumont , Englishtown, Franklin Borough, , Hardyston, Hopatcong, Cresskill, Howell Township, Medford Lakes and Readington.