Atlantic City Casinos Reaffirm Gun Ban Despite Federal Court Order
Concealed firearms aren’t welcome in Atlantic City casinos, despite a federal judge temporarily blocking new New Jersey laws designed to keep them out of gaming venues and other public spaces. That’s according to Mark Giannantonio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ).
Giannantonio told in a statement Monday that “all of the casinos are exercising their rights, as private property owners, to prohibit the carrying of firearms on their premises.”
The safety and well-being of our guests and employees is a top priority for the Atlantic City casinoindustry,” Giannantonio told
Guns have long been banned at Atlantic City casinos under the Casino Control Act. That’s without the written permission of the Division of Gaming Enforcement. Even law enforcement offiicers are permitted to enter casinos with their guns only “in an emergency situation,” according to the regulations.
But a ruling last summer by the US Supreme Court in “New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen,” determined that New York State’s law requiring a license to carry concealed weapons in public places was unconstitutional.
This also invalidated similar laws in New Jersey and several other states.
Limiting Concealed Carry
Those states argued that the Bruen ruling was limited in scope and still allowed them to regulate certain types of firearms and where guns can be carried, which included “sensitive places.” Some states have since cobbled together new gun laws that they hope will survive judicial scrutiny.
In December, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed sweeping legislation designed to limit where you can carry a concealed handgun. In addition to barring guns in casinos, this included schools, beaches, public libraries, bars, and restaurants.
The gun lobby swiftly sued Gov. Murphy, arguing the new laws infringed on their Second Amendment rights.
Bumb Deal
In January, US District Judge Renee Bumb issued a temporary restraining order on aspects of the law that banned the carrying of guns in public libraries, museums, bars, and restaurants and on private property without the owner’s permission.
Three weeks later, addressing another lawsuit, she blocked sections that prohibited guns in casinos and on beaches. These weren’t final rulings in the cases. But they prevent the bans from being enforced, pending the resolution of the lawsuits.
In the meantime, the Murphy administration is doubling down that the state’s new gun laws are constitutional and that Bumb’s rulings were wrongly decided.
Despite the temporary injunction issued by Judge Renee Bumb, gun carrying is still prohibited in Atlanti City casinos due to existing regulations. The gun lobby's lawsuit against Governor Murphy's efforts to limit concealed carry in casinos is ongoing.
The recent news about Judge Bumb's ruling on gun carry in casinos has sparked interest in the casino industry's stance on this issue, with many curious about how this will impact gaming venues and their guests.
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