Grassroots Efforts Expand to End New Jersey’s Controversial 2A Tax Scheme as more local governments join a growing resistance against what many see as an unconstitutional financial barrier to self-defense. Sparked by Englishtown’s recent decision to reimburse most of the state’s concealed carry permit fee, momentum is building across the Garden State to eliminate what critics call a “Second Amendment tax.” The $200 fee, required to obtain a concealed carry permit in New Jersey, has come under increasing scrutiny—especially since $150 of that amount goes directly to municipalities, not to cover any legitimate administrative costs.
Now, a broad coalition of pro-gun organizations and liberty-focused lawmakers is taking action to dismantle the state’s arbitrary and burdensome fee structure. The goal: ensure that every law-abiding citizen in New Jersey has equal access to their constitutional right to bear arms—without being taxed for it.
Local Governments Push Back Against Excessive Fees
Englishtown’s announcement was the first real breakthrough, offering to reimburse residents $150 of the $200 concealed carry permit fee. While seemingly small, that move cracked open the door for other municipalities to challenge the state’s policy. The logic is simple: if the majority of the fee goes into local government coffers, then local governments have the authority to reject it—and several are now doing just that.
The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), and the New Jersey Firearms Owners Syndicate (NJFOS) have joined forces to support and expand this effort. These advocacy groups argue that the state’s permit tax has little to do with administrative necessity and everything to do with discouraging law-abiding citizens from exercising their rights.
In many states, concealed carry permit fees are nominal and designed to cover basic processing costs. New Jersey’s $200 fee, on the other hand, is among the highest in the nation—raising serious concerns about economic discrimination. Those who can’t afford the steep cost are effectively priced out of their right to self-protection.
Movement Gains Traction Across the Garden State
Encouragingly, the grassroots movement has gained momentum. Following Englishtown’s lead, Franklin Township has officially adopted a similar reimbursement measure, becoming the second New Jersey municipality to push back against the fee scheme. According to sources close to the advocacy effort, more towns are expected to introduce or vote on similar measures in the coming weeks.
NRA-ILA Executive Director John Commerford praised the growing wave of opposition:
“We’re proud to stand with NJFOS and CCRKBA in urging municipalities to significantly reduce the financial burden placed on New Jerseyans seeking to exercise their constitutional rights,” he said. “No one should be priced out of their right to self-defense. Eliminating these unjust costs is a common-sense step toward ensuring equal access to a fundamental freedom.”
Commerford’s remarks echo a growing sentiment nationwide—that constitutional rights should never be treated as privileges to be bought and sold. The fees not only deter lower-income residents from obtaining permits but also create an uneven playing field based on wealth, not public safety.
A Coalition Committed to Constitutional Equality
The broader strategy behind the movement is to create enough municipal-level resistance that state lawmakers are forced to confront the issue head-on. With grassroots activism, legal pressure, and public support aligning, the coalition hopes to overturn the fee system entirely.
Second Amendment rights advocates emphasize that this is not just a financial issue—it’s a civil rights matter. Any fee that disproportionately impacts citizens based on their income sets a dangerous precedent. Charging people to access a constitutional right undermines the very foundation of equal protection under the law.
With continued action and expanding public support, the New Jersey 2A tax scheme may soon be a thing of the past. Until then, the grassroots movement is gaining strength, one town at a time.
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