Deputy Mayor Herman pushes discussion of proposed safe-storage firearm ordinance

Deputy Mayor Herman told the Public Safety Committee she would like the township to explore a local ordinance tightening safe-storage requirements for firearms. She said New Jersey’s existing law requires secure storage in homes where a child (defined in the discussion as age 16 or younger) may be present, and proposed a municipal standard that would require guns to be locked when not in use and ammunition stored separately.

"Having unsecured personal firearms in the home puts both adults and children at significant increased risk of accidental injury, accidental death, suicide by firearm, and increased lethality in domestic violence," Deputy Mayor Herman said, and referenced a Trenton ordinance and draft language from Moms Demand Action as templates for local use. She asked staff to share the state bill link in the meeting chat and requested that municipal counsel (Jennifer) review draft language; she said she would like to place the item on the committee agenda for May 20 for discussion.

Police Chief Sally said the practical scope of enforcement would be constrained by when officers have lawful reason to enter private residences. "The only way we can enforce it is if we're in the house for something and we observe it," the chief said, describing the ordinance as an additional charge that could accompany other offenses or domestic responses.

Committee members and staff discussed next steps: Deputy Mayor Herman asked staff to send ordinance language to counsel and to circulate the Trenton model; Malia and other committee members supported drafting the language for committee consideration. No formal vote or ordinance text was recorded in the transcript; the committee requested a draft and scheduled further discussion.

Why it matters: municipal safe-storage rules would add a local enforcement layer beyond state law and include potential penalties for violations. Deputy Mayor Herman cited public-health statistics and a recent state bill as motivation; the police chief emphasized that local enforcement would typically require an accompanying lawful reason to enter a home.

What’s next: staff were asked to share the Trenton ordinance and state bill link with committee members and to have counsel review draft language; the item was proposed for discussion at the May 20 committee meeting.