After a misunderstanding led to Elsid Aliaj’s wife being subjected to a three day hold and mental health evaluation, Aliaj found himself face to face with Fort Lee Police Officers at his door. The officers, without warrant or other order, claimed they were there to confiscate Aliaj’s guns. Fearing arrest for non-com[liance, Aliaj complied, and turned over his lawfully owned firearms. But after explaining that the guns were his and not his wife’s, and that he had a safe to store them that his wife did not have access to, law enforcement officials refused to return his lawfully owned, and constitutionally protected, property.

In fact, rather than abide by the demands of New Jersey law an the Constitution, prosecutors doubled down, and initiated revocation proceedings, to strip Aliaj of his Firearm Owners ID card – without which he cannot possess any firearms or ammunition in the state.

Both the initial confiscation, and the subsequent revocation proceeding are premised on the position that Aliaj himself can be disarmed and disenfranchised solely because of his wife’s legal status. This is not the law, and Second Amendment Foundation, joined by the New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate stepped up and are pleased to bring this challenge on behalf of Mr. Aliaj to restore the possession of his guns and the ongoing exercise of his fundamental rights.

Case Team: Ed Paltzik

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