New Jersey Sues Texas Firearms Company for Selling Illegal Bump Stocks to State Residents

RW Arms allegedly advertised and sold devices banned in New Jersey, failing to warn buyers of criminal penalties for possession.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs have filed a civil lawsuit against RW Arms, Ltd., a Texas-based firearms company, accusing it of illegally advertising and selling bump stock devices to consumers in New Jersey. Bump stocks are attachments that enable semi-automatic rifles to fire at speeds similar to machine guns by using recoil energy to facilitate rapid firing.

“Bump stocks are dangerous devices that dramatically increase the rate of fire of semi-automatic firearms and New Jersey has zero tolerance for them in our state,” said Attorney General Platkin. “To protect our residents and keep our communities safe from the epidemic of gun violence, we will continue to investigate and take action against companies that market and ship these lethal devices into New Jersey in violation of our laws.”

Under New Jersey law, possession of bump stocks is a third-degree crime, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine. The state’s ban was enacted in 2017 following the Las Vegas mass shooting, where a gunman using rifles equipped with bump stocks and large-capacity magazines killed 58 people and wounded more than 800 in under 10 minutes.

The lawsuit, filed in Essex County Superior Court, alleges that RW Arms violated New Jersey’s Hazardous Products Regulations and the Consumer Fraud Act by advertising and selling bump stocks without notifying purchasers of their illegality. The company allegedly promoted the devices online with banners stating “Supreme Court lifts Bump Stock ban!” and included ATF evaluation letters implying federal approval.

Investigators from the Division of Consumer Affairs conducted two undercover purchases of a “Bump Fire System Stock” from RW Arms in August and September 2024. At no point during checkout—despite providing a New Jersey shipping address—were the investigators warned that bump stocks are illegal in the state. Following the purchases, the investigator also received promotional emails advertising bump stocks without any warnings about New Jersey’s prohibition.

“RW Arms’ alleged unlawful advertisement and sale of illegal bump stocks into New Jersey demonstrates a blatant disregard for the laws intended to keep our communities safe and protect our consumers from deceptive business practices,” said Elizabeth M. Harris, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “By taking action against this business, we are not only fulfilling our duty to provide transparency in our marketplace; we are also preventing dangerous, illegal devices from coming into our state.”

The state’s lawsuit seeks maximum civil penalties, forfeiture of profits made through these sales, and a court order requiring RW Arms to block shipments of bump stocks to New Jersey. It also asks the court to compel the company to display prominent warnings on its website stating that possession of bump stocks in New Jersey is a criminal offense.

Although the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on bump stocks in June 2024, state bans remain in effect. New Jersey’s lawsuit is part of ongoing efforts to prevent illegal firearm products from entering the state.

Recent enforcement actions include a November 2024 settlement with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which agreed to pay $46,000 for allegedly selling large-capacity magazines in New Jersey, and a January 2024 settlement with Indiana-based Element Armament, LLC, which ceased sales of such magazines to New Jersey residents. Another lawsuit against a Nevada firearms company accused of shipping more than two dozen large-capacity magazines to New Jersey remains pending.

Attorney General Platkin stated that the action reflects New Jersey’s commitment to enforcing its gun safety laws and preventing dangerous firearm accessories from being sold to residents in violation of state law.