The bill amends New Jersey's firearm purchasing laws by requiring that all household members of an applicant for a permit to purchase a handgun (PPH) or a firearms purchaser identification card (FPIC) undergo a criminal history records background check. It establishes that if any household member is disqualified from owning a firearm due to factors such as criminal history or mental health issues, the applicant will also be disqualified from obtaining the PPH or FPIC. A household member is defined as any individual over the age of 18 who cohabitates with the applicant. This change aims to enhance public safety by ensuring that individuals living with potentially risky individuals are also scrutinized before acquiring firearms.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new legal language that mandates the comparison of fingerprints from both the applicant and their household members against municipal, county, state, and federal fingerprint records. It also allows for exemptions from fingerprinting for applicants who already possess a valid firearms purchaser identification card or have previously obtained a handgun purchase permit from the same authority, provided they can verify their identity and that of their household members. Overall, the legislation seeks to tighten regulations surrounding firearm purchases and improve the monitoring of individuals who may pose a danger to themselves or others.