New Jersey Town Refunds Permitting Fees Back to Carry Permit Applicants in a rare but powerful act of local resistance against the state’s restrictive gun laws. Englishtown, a small borough in Monmouth County, has become the first municipality in New Jersey to push back against the state’s controversial $200 carry permit fee, which critics say infringes on Second Amendment rights.
The state imposed the $200 permit fee following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, which struck down “may issue” concealed carry frameworks and affirmed that law-abiding Americans have a constitutional right to carry firearms outside the home for self-defense. Instead of complying with the spirit of the ruling, New Jersey lawmakers created new financial hurdles to carrying legally—prompting backlash from gun rights advocates across the country.
In a decisive move, Englishtown officials passed a resolution Wednesday evening to refund $150 of the fee to carry permit applicants. This $150 rebate represents the local government’s portion of the $200 fee, with the remaining $50 still going to the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police as mandated by state law. The borough’s action signals a growing discontent among local leaders with the state’s overreach.
Englishtown’s Rebuke Sends Strong Message to Trenton
The fact that New Jersey Town Refunds Permitting Fees Back to Carry Permit Applicants is not just a symbolic gesture—it’s a substantive decision to ease a financial burden that many believe violates constitutional rights. The state’s law not only created a steep $200 cost but also required residents to pay this fee every two years. Englishtown’s action slashes the cost by 75%, making it significantly easier for residents to obtain a permit without being penalized for exercising their rights.
Gun rights organizations quickly praised Englishtown’s bold step. The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) responded with a letter of support, calling the town’s resolution a model of principled leadership.
“Seeing this body move within their powers to create a rebate vehicle for permit to carry applicants is a show of true leadership,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “Rebating the $150 portion the municipality collects makes the—still unconstitutional—permitting scheme more palatable. This will positively impact your citizens.”
Gottlieb’s letter emphasized that this was not simply a political move, but a real-world demonstration that local governments can and should advocate for their residents when the state oversteps.
Englishtown’s resolution may encourage other New Jersey towns to follow suit. As frustration with state-level mandates continues to rise, particularly on issues of gun rights, more municipalities may consider reclaiming their authority to shield residents from excessive fees and restrictions.
Constitutional Questions Remain Despite Local Relief
While New Jersey Town Refunds Permitting Fees Back to Carry Permit Applicants offers welcome relief to Englishtown residents, larger legal questions still remain. Many gun rights advocates argue that even the remaining $50 fee is unconstitutional under the Bruen precedent, which stressed that any restrictions on Second Amendment rights must align with the historical tradition of firearm regulation in America.
Critics say there is no historical justification for requiring citizens to pay recurring fees in order to exercise a fundamental right. The fact that Englishtown’s leadership felt compelled to act speaks volumes about the growing awareness of how financial barriers are being used to undermine constitutionally protected freedoms.
Whether this local pushback will spark legal challenges or inspire broader reform at the state level remains to be seen. However, Englishtown’s action underscores a clear truth: the fight to preserve the right to keep and bear arms is not just happening in Washington, D.C., or state capitals—it’s unfolding in small towns and communities across America.
As long as municipalities like Englishtown are willing to stand up, the message to overreaching lawmakers is clear: the Constitution still matters, and the people are paying attention.
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