One of the things about New Jersey and their firearm laws that often goes ignored is that the establishment makes patriots. The long and arduous history of infringements in the Garden State go way back. Just the other day I reported on litigation that’s nearly identical to litigation that was occurring during Bush I. 

“You can’t do that,” or “You can’t have that,” over and over again has made The People say, “Enough!” Sprouting from the despair of tyranny, N.J. gun owners have been banding together. A recent call to arms raised over $25,000.00 to go towards litigation against Trenton, and all just under a week.

I often say that New Jersey “did this to themselves.” While the cretins in Trenton believe that if you “give them an inch, they’ll take a mile,” the exact opposite has happened. The lesson of time and pressure that got explained in “The Shawshank Redemption,” applies here. They kept the pressure on for far too long.

All three branches of the government in New Jersey have conspired against The People for so many decades, that The People really are charged with toppling down all the schemes. Armed with solid Supreme Court opinions, there are legal battles going on and many more forthcoming.

Had the three branches of government put their heads together to see how they could work themselves out of some of this mess instead of try to continue to take rights away, we’d probably not be having this conversation. Not New Jersey. They could have had us whipped and set us free, but rather they opted for crucifixion over and over again. If they gave an inch, most people would have been happy with that.

Congratulations to Governor Phil Murphy!

Murphy has brought together patriots in the Garden State like they have not been banded since the Jim Florio years.  “Florio free in '93” was a common bumper sticker I’d see back in the days when I was learning to play the recorder and when “The Simpsons” was a cool new cartoon.

There was a fundraising drive that got the moniker “Peanut Butter and Jelly,” around 2021/2022.

This dated back to when the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners was looking to increase a war chest for litigation that was being spearheaded by a CNJFO member.

A comment on social media sparked a movement. The commenter said that they'd be taking peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with them to work for lunch for a while, rather than drop $15.00 a meal. They said that the money they were going to save would be donated to the cause. That fund campaign was wildly successful and goals were met and exceeded.

The money from that fundraiser ultimately helped fund some litigation that ended up being won easily. Then $5000.00 went towards the Koons case that was and currently is attacking the N.J. carry-killer law. The leftover money from the fund was then used in CNJFO’s most recent litigation.

The recently filed litigation, Benton vs. Platkin, by CNJFO, Gun Owners of America, and Gun Owners Foundation, challenges many of New Jersey’s permitting laws and is the case getting funded. The filing also created a renewed spirit in Garden State patriots.

Because of that spirit, “Peanut Butter and Jelly II” was born.

CNJFO vowed to match, dollar for dollar, any donations to the PBJ II fund, up to $25,000.00. The fund match would go towards this litigation specifically targeting unconstitutional law in New Jersey and future litigation. The fundraiser got off the ground the week of Independence Day, and the goal was met in under seven days.

Donations in the amounts of $17.76, $177.60, $1776.00, and amounts between those values crashed the donation system at least twice during the week. Donation #1776 in the amount of $176.60 came on July 4^th, by a founding member of CNJFO.

I reached out to John “Jack” Pyle, CNJFO Vice President and Treasurer, and the point of contact on the current litigation, for comment. 

“For far too long, New Jersey courts, legislators and governors have thumbed their noses at the Constitution while passing, and upholding, layer upon layer of unconstitutional gun laws,” Pyle said. “With this case, Benton v. Platkin, we begin the process of peeling away those layers and returning to the law-abiding residents of New Jersey their unfettered right to keep and bear arms; not subject to excessive fees, excessive delays, rationing, and multiple permission slips as New Jersey thinks it should be, but how it was understood to be at the time of the Founding.”

This is an initiative that I’m proud to say I not only got to follow in real-time, but also participate in.

New Jersey, like many of the states affected by Bruen, has a lot of challenges to overcome. No one is immune to the progressive push to disarm America, but let’s face it, it’s pretty bad in states like New Jersey.

“By Sunday afternoon, the goal was reached of 25K GW's and donations continued to come in. If you have the means, please consider to continue to donate to the PB&J II litigation fund,” Matt Andras, CNJFO President said in a statement. “If any of the Trenton bureaucrats were watching this unfold, this should be a warning that we will no longer allow them to compromise our rights.”

It’s important that a message gets sent to the disarmament cabal about people being over and done with their agenda. You don’t want the politics of the New Jerseys and Californias to come and infect your state. So, supporting grassroots initiatives like this is very important.

To date, CNJFO has raised $26,657.12 through the PBJ II fundraiser. While the matching portion of the fundraiser is over, the donation link is still live for those who wish to contribute.

This is a testament to patriots pulling together and doing the work that’s needed on a grassroots front to take down bad law. With luck on our side, and the Supreme Court, these litigation efforts will continue to release the good people of New Jersey from bondage.