ANALYSIS

Gun sales in NJ: Here's how many people are licensed to sell firearms near you

Susanne Cervenka
Asbury Park Press
The gun control argument has settled on two extremes. One side screams “Take all the guns away” while the other side says “Come and get them.”

New Jersey has some of the most stringent gun laws in the country. So it's no real surprise that it has among the fewest federally licensed gun businesses.

But it might surprise you to learn the most dealers can be found in Ocean and Monmouth counties.

Federal law requires any person in business selling firearms to be registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Only Hawaii and Delaware have fewer federal firearms licenses. 

Here's a look at the number of federal firearms licenses in each county with the top towns. See the interactive graphic for the full breakdown licenses by town.

Note: These tallies do not include collectors of "curios and relics" – firearms that are considered valuable for their historical value rather than for sport or offensive and defensive purposes. Those collectors are also required to have federal firearm licenses but are not listed publicly in the ATF database.

21.  Essex, 6

  • Fairfield, 3
  • Belleville, 2

19 (tied).  Hudson, 8

  • Jersey City, 3
  • Secaucus, 2

19 (tied).  Salem, 8

  • Mannington, 5
  • Carneys Point, 2

More:DataUniverse update: 2018 postal employees

18.  Mercer, 9

  • Hamilton, 2
  • Lawrence, 2
  • Robbinsville, 2

17.  Cape May, 11

  • Middle, 5
  • Upper, 3
  • Dennis, 2
Gov. Chris Christie has adopted new regulations that would make it easier to obtain a permit to carry a handgun in New Jersey.

16. Cumberland, 12

  • Millville, 3
  • Vineland, 3
  • Deerfield, 2
  • Upper Deerfield, 2

More:Toms River 911: 'It looks like a hole, either a gunshot or a stab wound'

15. Union, 12

  • Rahway, 3
  • Union, 3

14. Camden, 14

  • Cherry Hill, 3
  • Haddon, 2
  • Voorhees, 2
  • Waterford, 2
  • Winslow, 2

13. Somerset, 14

  • Branchburg, 5
  • Green Brook, 2
  • Warren, 2

More:Should teachers be armed? KEEP TALKING

12. Middlesex, 16

  • Old Bridge, 3
  • Woodbridge, 3
  • Edison, 2

9 (tied). Hunterdon, 18

  • Clinton Township, 3
  • Union, 3
  • Lebanon Township, 2
  • Raritan Township, 2
  • West Amwell, 2
Handgun

9 (tied). Sussex, 18

  • Hopatcong, 4
  • Vernon, 4
  • Andover Township, 3

9 (tied). Warren, 18

  • Independence, 4
  • Harmony, 3
  • White, 3

More:Central Regional teacher's gun in bag was 'accident'

8. Bergen, 20

  • Carlstadt, 2
  • Garfield, 2

7. Burlington, 21

  • Springfield, 5
  • Bordentown Township, 2
  • Burlington Township, 2
  • Florence, 2
  • Southampton, 2
Handgun

6. Gloucester, 22

  • Harrison, 5
  • Deptford, 3
  • Franklin, 3
  • Mantua, 3
  • West Deptford, 3

More:Jackson student 'will be disciplined' for BB gun in school

5. Passaic, 26

  • Wayne, 6
  • West Milford, 6
  • Paterson, 3

4. Atlantic, 27

  • Hamilton, 4
  • Egg Harbor Township, 3
  • Galloway, 3
  • Hammonton, 3
  • Weymouth Township, 3

More:Lakewood teen arrested after 'unamusing' email threat

3. Morris, 34

  • Rockaway Township, 5
  • Randolph. 4
  • Wharton, 4

2. Monmouth, 38

  • Freehold Township, 6
  • Wall. 6
  • Ocean, 5
A handgun

1. Ocean, 42

  • Brick, 10
  • Beachwood, 4
  • Lacey, 4

Susanne Cervenka: @scervenka; 732-643-4229; scervenka@gannettnj.com