By: Richard L. Smith
A troubling case that tied loose gun storage to criminal violence in cities like Newark and Paterson has resulted in a major court-approved settlement between the State of New Jersey and FSS Armory, Inc., a licensed firearms dealer in Pine Brook, Morris County.
According to information released by the Newark-based Office of the Attorney General, FSS Armory has agreed to pay $125,000 and implement sweeping security upgrades after a 2023 burglary at its store led to the theft of 18 unsecured firearms.
The guns, carelessly stored near a ground-floor window and even pictured on the company’s website, were stolen in a break-in that went undetected until the following morning.
So far, only nine of the 18 stolen guns have been recovered, and all of them were found in the hands of criminals or at active crime scenes.
One of the stolen pistols was discovered in Newark on a suspect wanted for multiple domestic violence offenses; the arrest ended in injury to a police officer.
Another weapon turned up during a sweep of an illegal nightclub in Paterson. Several more were recovered by the NYPD during an undercover gun trafficking operation. The remaining nine guns are still unaccounted for.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin called the settlement a major step forward in holding the firearms industry accountable.
The lawsuit, brought by the Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Office, charged FSS Armory with four counts of misconduct, including negligence and violations of New Jersey’s 2022 firearms industry public safety law.
“The careless storage of deadly weapons—combined with broadcasting that carelessness online—put multiple communities at risk,” said Platkin. “This outcome helps ensure future accountability and sends a message to the entire firearms industry.”
Surveillance revealed that two individuals smashed the store window in January 2023 and stole a total of 18 guns: seven pistols, six shotguns, four rifles, and a revolver.
Hours later, the same suspects used the stolen weapons in an armed robbery of a jewelry store in Passaic, where multiple victims were held at gunpoint and one was injured.
As part of the final settlement, FSS Armory admitted fault and agreed to install bars on all windows, implement real-time alarm systems, and lock up all weapons after hours in safes or approved metal cabinets. 
The business will also be monitored every six months by an independent inspector for the next four years.
The SAFE Office is urging all licensed gun dealers across New Jersey to take notice. Anyone with information about the still-missing firearms is encouraged to contact authorities.