Gun-rights groups did not get everything they wanted. For instance, prohibitions on carrying guns at playgrounds and youth sporting events still stand. However, gun-rights groups said the opinion was evidence the new law is in legal trouble.

"Today's ruling deals a devastating blow to Governor Murphy's misguided law trashing right to carry," said Scott Bach, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs. "The governor needs to see the handwriting on the wall and pivot from trying to block self-defense by law-abiding citizens to going after violent criminals instead."

"We are very pleased," attorney Daniel Schmutter of Hartman & Winnicki said in an interview about the ruling. "This is a significant indication of the courts siding with the people's right to bear arms under the Constitution."

Schmutter, who represented the gun owners in the case, pointed out his disagreement with portions of the ruling that allow various permitting requirements. "The U.S. Constitution already makes that balance   the State of New Jersey does not get to say we don't like people to exercise that right," he said.

The ruling means New Jersey residents with proper permits are free to carry handguns at beaches, public parks, bars and restaurants. These are places Gov. Phil Murphy wants them banned from.
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said that the decision "is devastating for public safety."

Attorney Daniel Schmutter represented plaintiffs including the Second Amendment Foundation, the Firearms Policy Coalition, and the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners.

"This is a major victory for the Second Amendment. The judge enjoined huge portions of the law and recognized the supreme significance and importance of the fundamental right to bear arms," Schmutter said. "We're very glad that she was able to see the really gross constitutional violations of much of this law."

Scott Bach is executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, one of the plaintiffs in the case.

"This whole law was a bad idea to begin with. It was an angry fist-shaking in response to the Supreme Court's Bruen decision," Bach said. "If the governor was circumspect, he should be doing some self-examination right now and asking whether there are better ways to affect public policy, like severely punishing violent criminals instead of waging a war on the gun rights of law-abiding, honest citizens who are trained and vetted."

Coughlin (D-Middlesex), a prime sponsor of the legislation, called himself disappointed by the ruling and commended Attorney General Matt Platkin's swift move to appeal.

"We in the Assembly remain committed to the belief that guns do not belong in places like   libraries and bars serving alcohol, and we will continue to take action to ensure the safety of all New Jerseyans from gun violence," he said in a statement.

In a tweet, the New Jersey Assembly Republicans said the party is "proud" of Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Morris) and Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn (R-Monmouth) for standing up during floor votes to fight the law passed by Democrats. The two lawmakers were cited in the new ruling for questioning the bill during legislative sessions last year.

Alejandro Roubian, president of the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, praised Tuesday's ruling.

"Disarming the innocent is the greatest form of violence, and once again we are ecstatic that Judge Bumb smacked down a majority of the discriminatory and draconian laws that target minorities and women the most, while tyrants like Governor Murphy and Attorney General Platkin surround themselves with guns for protection," he said.

In Tuesday's mammoth ruling that puts a halt   for now   to almost all of the new gun law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy last year, there is a footnote that illustrates how New Jersey Democrats screwed the pooch on this one.

Danielsen did not respond to a request for comment.

Just as state officials were learning that a federal judge had barred New Jersey from enforcing its new requirement that gun owners get liability insurance to carry their guns in public, the state's top insurance regulator faced questions over the controversial state mandate.

Summer's coming, so start packing.

Packing heat, that is.

Because you can now take a firearm to the beach, the mall, the movie theater, or the corner bar in New Jersey.

You can take it to Met Life, The Pru, Liberty State Park, and Turtleback Zoo.

Just don't carry your Glock into schools or hospitals, because there might be slow-moving kids or seniors in those places, and we don't want to expose them to any needless, you know, danger.

This lesson in demented logic comes courtesy of a federal district judge who followed the lead of the US Supreme Court and took a wrecking ball to our state law limiting the number of "sensitive places" where you might carry a firearm. Our Legislature had tried to limit the damage of the high court's Bruen decision, which protected concealed carry rights, by restricting its reach and banning the guns from a broad range of venues.

In the meantime, we can press to aggressively enforce limits that survived, like the right for private businesses and homes to deny entrance to anyone with a firearm. Six in 10 New Jerseyans believe federal gun laws are too weak, and 72% are "very concerned" about gun violence, so we should put our money where our mouths are, by boycotting businesses that allow guns on their property.

Our hope is that businesses adapt by posting a no-firearms sign on their front doors. And if they don't, remember to call and let them know why you're not patronizing them.

I talked to a very "liberal" friend recently and he did not know that New Jersey has been issuing carry permits for people for months now.

He was shocked to know that more than a handful of New Jersey residents are now legally carrying concealed weapons.

For years it was nearly impossible to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Our neighbors in Pennsylvania have been doing it forever, but not here. Well, not anymore.