1927 N.J. Laws 180-81

1. The term "machine gun or automatic rifle," as used in this act, shall be construed to mean any weapon, mechanism or instrument not requiring that the trigger be pressed for each shot and having a reservoir, belt or other means of storing and carrying ammunition, which can be loaded into the said weapon, mechanism or instrument and fired therefrom at a rate of five or more shots to the second. 2. Any person who shall sell, give, loan, furnish or deliver any machine gun or automatic rifle to another person, or any person who shall purchase, have or possess any machine gun or automatic rifle, shall be guilty of a high misdemeanor; provided, the provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who has procured and possesses a license to purchase, have and possess a machine gun or automatic rifle as hereinafter provided for; nor to the authorized agents and servants of such licensee; or to the officers and members of any duly authorized military organization; nor to the officers and members of the police force of any municipality, nor to the officers and members of the State Police force; nor to any sheriff or undersheriff; nor to any prosecutor of the pleas, his assistants, detectives and employes. 3. Any person who desires to purchase, have and possess a machine gun or automatic rifle may apply to a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the applicant is a resident for a license to purchase, have and possess a machine gun or automatic rifle. Such application shall be in writing and shall state in detail the reasons why such person desires such license. Upon such application being presented to the judge, he shall refer the same to the sheriff of his county or to the chief police officer of the municipality in which said applicant resides, for his investigation and approval, and if said application is approved by the sheriff or by said chief police officer, said judge may, in his discretion, issue a license under his hand and the seal of his court to the applicant to purchase, have and possess a machine gun or automatic rifle, for his own protection and for the protection of his servants and employes. 4. Upon the issuance of such license, the judge shall send or deliver the same to the county clerk of his county, who shall, in a book provided for that purpose, enter a record of said license, stating the date of its issuance and the name and address of the person to whom the same is issued. Upon such record being made, the county clerk shall deliver said license to the person to whom the same is issued. 5. Upon the application of any bank or banking institution, trust company or building and loan association within this State, the judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the applicant is located shall issue to such bank or banking institution, trust company or building and loan association, a license to purchase and possess one or more machine guns or automatic rifles for its own use and protection, and for the use and protection of its officers, servants and employes, which license shall be recorded by the county clerk as hereinbefore provided. 6. Upon the application of any railway company, canal company or steamboat company within this State, the judge of the Court of Common Pleas of any county within which said railway company, canal company or steamboat company operates, shall issue to such railway company, canal company or steamboat company a license to purchase and possess one or more machine guns or automatic rifles for its own use and protection and for the use and protection of its officers, servants and employes, which license shall be recorded by the county clerk as hereinbefore provided. 7. This act shall take effect immediately.