Morris County firearms retailer FSS Armory to pay $125K, upgrade security after burglary of 18 unsecured guns
PINE BROOK, N.J. (Morris County) — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced the court-approved settlement of a civil lawsuit against firearms retailer FSS Armory, Inc., after the business’s storage practices led to a 2023 burglary in which 18 unsecured guns were stolen.
Only half of the stolen firearms have been recovered—each found either at a crime scene or in the possession of criminals. One was located following a violent encounter that injured a police officer.
Under the settlement, FSS Armory, located in Pine Brook, Morris County, must install upgraded security, properly secure its firearms, and pay $125,000 in compensation to the State of New Jersey.
“This case is a stark example of the consequences that can result when unsecured firearms fall into the wrong hands,” Platkin said. “In New Jersey, we use every tool at our disposal to prevent violence caused by firearms. Other licensed gun retailers should take heed.”
The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by the Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Office, alleged four counts of unlawful conduct, including negligence and three violations of New Jersey’s firearms industry public safety law.
Ravi Ramanathan, director of the SAFE Office, said the case demonstrates how the 2022 public safety law is designed to hold gun retailers accountable. “The gun industry should be no different than any other industry when it comes to public safety,” he said.
FSS Armory admitted to storing unsecured guns in plain sight of a ground-floor window and to advertising those storage conditions online. In January 2023, two individuals broke the window and stole 18 guns—seven pistols, six shotguns, four rifles, and one revolver. No alarm was triggered, and the burglary went unnoticed until the following morning.
The stolen weapons were later tied to multiple crimes, including a robbery in Passaic, where victims were held at gunpoint and one was injured. Recovered firearms were found in Newark, Paterson, and New York during various criminal investigations.
Under the Consent Order and Final Judgment, FSS Armory must:
- Install real-time alarms on all doors and windows.
- Add bars to exterior windows.
- Secure all firearms during non-business hours using approved locking mechanisms.
- Comply with all settlement requirements while operating as a firearms retailer.
- Submit to inspections by an independent monitor every six months for four years.
The investigation was led by SAFE Deputy Director Jeremy Ershow and a team from the Division of Law’s Special Litigation Section. The State reports that New Jersey currently ranks third-lowest in firearm deaths nationwide.
