WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today welcomed the United State Supreme Court's refusal to hear a challenge to New Jersey's concealed carry restrictions. In Drake v. Jerejian, the case centered on New Jersey's prohibition on carrying firearms in public places without an urgent need. Both a U.S. District Court and the 3rd Circuit upheld this requirement as constitutional, and today the Supreme Court declined to hear the challenge.

"I applaud the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to protect New Jersey's strong gun safety laws." Menendez said. "As one of the most densely populated states in the country, New Jersey has carefully constructed one of the nation's strongest gun safety systems, and today's decision further illustrates that it is possible to balance common sense gun safety measures with law-abiding citizens' rights under the Second Amendment."

State laws on carrying firearms in public vary widely from state to state. Some states allow those as young as 16 to carry firearms in public without a permit; other states allow firearms in certain schools, churches, or bars. Senator Menendez has previously voted against legislation that would have overruled New Jersey's open carry restrictions for out-of-state permit holders.

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