# Gun owners sue NJ over nonfirearm weapon bans

> Gun rights groups challenge New Jersey's laws banning knives, stun guns, and bats for self-defense
- Title: Gun owners sue NJ over nonfirearm weapon bans · PhillyVoice
- Summary: Gun rights groups challenge New Jersey's laws banning knives, stun guns, and bats for self-defense New Jersey's weapon restrictions may be unenforceable…
- Keywords: second amendment, stun guns, knives, bats, new jersey, federal court, gun rights, bruen decision, self defense, nj lawsuit, nonfirearm weapons, Gun
- Source: PhillyVoice — https://phillyvoice.com/gun-owners-challenge-nj-restrictions-nonfirearm-weapons
- Published: 2026-09-22T17:05:05.85+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nj, second amendment, stun guns, knives, bats, new jersey, federal court, gun rights, bruen decision, self defense, nj lawsuit, nonfirearm weapons
## New lawsuit targets NJ weapon laws
Gun rights groups sued New Jersey to overturn bans on knives, stun guns, slingshots, and bats for self-defense.

> The Second Amendment protects all common arms not just guns
## Second Amendment claim
Attorneys argue New Jersey's rules prevent using less-lethal tools for self-defense, violating Second Amendment rights.

> Arms come in many forms, not just guns
## What's banned?
New Jersey law prohibits carrying baseball bats, hammers, screwdrivers, knives, and pepper spray for self-defense.

> A baseball bat, a hammer, a screwdriver, any knife, a box cutter, pepper spray
## Bruen decision impact
The Supreme Court's Bruen ruling requires gun restrictions to be rooted in historical traditions from the late 1700s.

> Arms come in many forms, not just guns
## Why sue?
Plaintiffs say New Jersey's laws conflict with Bruen by banning everyday objects for self-defense.

> New Jersey law still explicitly bans and punishes the carry of common, everyday objects
## Who's involved?
The lawsuit names New Jersey's attorney general and state police superintendent as defendants.

> New Jersey's commonsense restrictions on weapons keep our residents safe
## Plaintiffs' background
Wendy Copenhaver and her brother own a gun range, Walter Everard is a retired pipefitter and Navy veteran, and Salvatore Marsilla runs an auto store.
## Previous challenges
Gun rights groups have challenged New Jersey's gun laws on Second Amendment grounds multiple times in recent years.
## State response
New Jersey officials vow to defend the state's weapon restrictions while claiming they keep residents safe.

> New Jersey's commonsense restrictions on weapons keep our residents safe
## Historical context
New Jersey's weapon laws were challenged after the Supreme Court ruled in Bruen that gun restrictions must follow historical traditions.
## Key takeaway

New Jersey's weapon restrictions may be unenforceable under Second Amendment after Supreme Court ruling