The Berkeley Township Council voted this week to refund $100 of the state-mandated $150 carry permit fee to residents who obtain a concealed carry permit, making it the 23rd municipality in New Jersey to enact a rebate program.
The initiative began last year as a joint effort by the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, and the New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate. Organizers launched the campaign to offset the state’s mandatory application fees, which they contend present a financial obstacle for residents seeking to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
With this vote, the township—also known as Bayville—joins a growing list of local governments across New Jersey implementing similar financial relief measures for firearm owners.
“We are both delighted and proud of the progress our effort has achieved,” said CCRKBA Executive Director Andrew Gottlieb. “Working with our partners and the various participating municipalities has been an incredibly rewarding experience, demonstrating how cooperation and common sense produce a benefit for the public.”
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Gottlieb noted that the initiative faced skepticism when it first launched, but has since expanded across nearly two dozen towns.
“What may have seemed like an impossible task this time last year has become a success story which still has many chapters waiting to be written,” Gottlieb said. “It reminds us all that good people can come together to do the right thing, and the Citizens Committee is proud to be part of this remarkable project.”
Local officials also voiced support for the financial rollback. Gottlieb highlighted statements from Berkeley Township Mayor John Bacchione, noting that the mayor “recognizes the steep permit fee as a deterrent towards people wanting to exercise their rights.” Additionally, gun rights advocates credited New Jersey State Senator Carmen Amato, Jr. for assisting with the local push to pass the measure.
The rebate program represents a novel local approach to gun permit funding. The measure arrives amid a broader national conversation surrounding firearm access and constitutional rights as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary on July 4.
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