Why Does NJ have repressive gun laws?

[gadinort]

I'd say the automatic go-to opinion the majority of people have is that only criminals need guns etc thanks to the elected officials and media. NJ doesn't have a strong enough "gun culture" to turn the tide the other way yet.
Perhaps if the Chicago case goes well NJ's gun culture will get some more freedom and start turning things the other way.

 

[eye5600]

NJ essentially aims to be the suburb of NYC and Philadelphia.

No, NJ is plagued by being the suburb of NYC and Philadephia. Aside from other problems mentioned, NJ state government gets very little media attention. Both broadcast and print media are dominated by NYC and Philly issues. Most Americans pay little enough to attention to state government, but in NJ it difficult to do so if you want to.

I grew up in NJ. I had classmates who were hunters and took opening day off from school. We had the fox hunt (that means horses and hounds) ride through our yard one time. There are still rural areas in NJ (like where Lou Dobbs lives) but the 40 mi radius from NYC and the Turnpike corridor to Philly are pretty much paved over.

 

[benEzra]

Perhaps because NJ has the lowest rate of gun ownership of any state in the nation.