Amusement Park Gun Charges in New Jersey

Aggressive Weapons Lawyers Defending Clients Charged with Guns at Amusement Parks in Jackson, Wildwood, Seaside Heights, West Berlin, and East Rutherford NJ

When the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, family outings usually include at least one or two trips to an amusement park.  For some, thrill rides like roller coasters and free fall towers are the way to go, while others look for a more tranquil experience on the carousel and Ferris wheel.  Wave pools and water slides are popular attractions for cooling off on a hot day.  Fair food such as turkey legs, corn dogs, and funnel cake tempt parkgoers looking to indulge, even if it is only for one day.  Amusement parks provide entertainment for everyone in the family in a safe environment where your greatest concern is deciding what to do next. Then, a fun-filled day can take a turn for the worse if you get arrested for carrying a firearm or other weapon at an amusement park in New Jersey.

Owning a firearm in New Jersey requires strict adherence to some very complex laws. You need to know how to store your weapon, get a permit, and where to carry it. You can unwittingly violate the law in many ways, leaving you to face severe penalties through no fault of your own. At The Tormey Law Firm, our talented team of NJ gun lawyers steps in when things head south due to an unexpected weapons charge. Our clients frequently face guns and weapons offenses when they lack the proper permits or head to a location with their weapon where that weapon is actually prohibited. If you have been charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm at a New Jersey amusement park in Bergen County, Ocean County, Camden County, Atlantic County, Cape May County, or another county, simply reach out to us for a free consultation to discuss your case and find out how we can help mitigate the charges and consequences. Contact us online or by calling (201)-614-2474 for immediate assistance.

Wild Rides & Water Slides: New Jersey’s Amusement Park Adventures

New Jersey is home to more than 25 amusement parks. Many of them are located near the Wildwood Boardwalk, a 2.5-mile-long stretch adorned with 70,000 wooden planks, flanked on either side by pubs, pizzerias, seafood, beer, ice cream shops, games of chance, arcades, carnival rides, and shopping. Built in 1895, the boardwalk has been a hub for beach fans for over a century, offering the perfect summer experience. A popular theme among New Jersey Amusement Parks is water attractions. Just off the boardwalk, the Splash Zone Waterpark in Wildwood is a grand slam for water fun enthusiasts.  It has boogie boarding and surfing attractions, many water slides, a splash zone, and a wading pool for the little ones.

Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Waterpark, voted the second-best amusement park in the world by Amusement Today, boasts over 100 rides and attractions.  It is home to two water parks and an amusement park stuffed to the gills with attractions for all ages and adrenaline seekers.  Spanning 18 acres and six city blocks, it can be found in Wildwood.

At Diggerland in West Berlin, park visitors can experience what it is like to move tower cranes and bulldozers in this construction-themed waterpark.  Water slides, wave pools, and a water obstacle course keep visitors busy all day. The Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach Waterpark on the Jersey Shore in Seaside Heights is a state-of-the-art waterpark specializing in waterslides, some of which reach speeds high enough to create a zero-gravity experience for riders; the hot tub springs, wild river tubing experience, and wave pool provide a memorable experience for the whole family.  In addition, The Keansburg Amusement Park boasts 19 water slides, Go-karts, fair rides, and games for those who prefer dry land.

But there is more to New Jersey than waterparks. Six Flags Adventure, in Jackson, New Jersey, has been around for over 50 years and has more than 60 rides ranging from adrenaline-inducing roller coasters to old-time favorites like the carousel.  There is a separate park on the premises, the Wild Safari Off-Road Adventure, where visitors can get an up-close look at their favorite safari animals.

For younger families, Storybook Land, located in Egg Harbour Township, is the ideal spot for the young ones to experience their favorite fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and folk stories.  Only a 20-minute drive from Atlantic City, this park will surely be a big hit with the young and the young at heart.  Land of Make-Believe, located in Hope Township, is a hybrid waterpark and amusement park.  Thrill rides and water slides are the main attractions.  Chosen by New Jersey Magazine as the number one amusement park in Northern New Jersey, it is a family-pleasing summer staple.

In Stanhope, New Jersey, the Wild West City opened its gates in 1957, providing New Jerseyans with a trip back when the West was untamed.  Open from spring through fall, this park offers the authentic Western experience with stagecoach rides, pony rides, panning for gold, and live-action entertainment.  There is also a barnyard petting zoo where you can get to know the animals up close.  Activities and entertainment change with the seasons, so the adventures to be had constantly change.

Limitations of Carrying Guns at Amusement Parks in NJ

In 2022, the Supreme Court voted in favor of a person’s right to carry a firearm in public.  In a challenge to a New York law that only permitted people to carry a gun once the gun owner was able to demonstrate they experienced “specific threats or previous attacks” that were considered life-threatening, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, ruled that the law restricted a person’s right to bear arms.  New Jersey had a law similar to that of New York regarding the carrying of guns in public, which was affected similarly by this decision. The results have been astounding. In 2021, 631 gun-carry permits were issued in New Jersey; in 2023, that number shot up exponentially to almost 20,000.  From January through March of this year, 9,536 permits to carry have been issued.  At this rate, 2024 will end with a few more than 25,000 permits given.

In December of 2022, in response to the change in the gun laws due to the Supreme Court’s ruling, Gov. Murphy created a new law that added a list of sensitive places where it is illegal to carry a weapon, even with a permit.  Schools of any kind, such as universities, educational institutions, nursery schools, preschools, and summer camps, are considered sensitive places.  Youth sporting events, parks, beaches, and playgrounds prohibit firearm carrying. All government buildings and places where government meetings are held are also restricted, as are all places where alcohol is served. In hospitals, nursing homes, and any other medical facility, weapons are not allowed.  Additionally, entertainment areas such as stadiums, casinos, libraries, museums, and amusement parks prohibit the possession of firearms.

In other words, simply having a concealed carry permit does not mean you can bring your firearm into a theme park in New Jersey. In fact, it is against the law.

Penalties for Carrying a Firearm at an NJ Theme Park

There are a few charges you might face for possessing a gun at an NJ amusement park. For one, possessing a firearm without a permit and carrying one from out of state, even with a permit from that state, is considered unlawful possession of a weapon, a second degree offense, under the New Jersey Criminal Code of Justice.  If you are found in possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an unlawful act, it is also a second degree offense. Both crimes carry a 5 to 10-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $150,000. Plus, New Jersey takes weapons offenses seriously. The Graves Act requires gun offenders to serve at least 42 months before coming up for parole eligibility. It also seriously limits the ability to qualify for PTI (Pre-Trial Intervention) unless you obtain a Graves Act Waiver.

If you are carrying a weapon in a “sensitive place,” which importantly includes amusement parks, you can be charged with a third degree indictable offense.  This offense carries a 3 to 5-year sentence and a fine of up to $15,000. Essentially, even a permitted firearm with the ability to concealed carry elsewhere does not mean you can bring your handgun to an amusement park. You could be arrested and charged with a felony offense.

Need a Lawyer for a Gun Charge at an Amusement Park in NJ? Contact Us

If you are facing gun charges following an arrest for a weapon at a theme park, water park, or amusement park in New Jersey, our proven gun lawyers at The Tormey Law Firm have helped hundreds of people like you who have found themselves in this serious predicament in Burlington County, Monmouth County, Mercer County, Morris County, and other counties in New Jersey. We know how to build the best defense for your case. We believe in the constitutional right to bear arms and will defend those rights for you. Regardless of the circumstances that led to the charges, we will review all of the evidence, your complete criminal history, and assess your legal options for getting the charges dismissed, enrolling in a diversionary program, getting probation, or reducing the penalties to which you are now exposed. Call us today at (201) 614-2474 to speak with a New Jersey weapons attorney for your free consultation.