Editing New Jersey (section)

====Social attitudes and issues====
{{See also|LGBT rights in New Jersey|Gun laws in New Jersey}}
Socially, New Jersey is considered one of the more liberal states in the nation. Polls indicate that 60% of the population are self-described as [[pro-choice]], although a majority are opposed to late trimester and [[intact dilation and extraction]] and public funding of abortion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/17086/poll-says-majority-of-americans-opposed-to-abortion-funding-in-health-care-bill|title=Poll says majority of Americans opposed to abortion funding in health care bill :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)|agency=Catholic News Agency|access-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2005/50StateAbortion0805SortedbyState.htm|title=SurveyUSA Pro-Life vs. Pro Choice Sorted by State|publisher=Surveyusa.com|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106172717/http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2005/50StateAbortion0805SortedbyState.htm|archive-date=January 6, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2022, all aspects of reproductive choice (including abortion) are protected by law.<ref name=Repro>[https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2020/AL21/375_.PDF Text of the reproductive choice law passed by NJ in 2022] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217182445/https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2020/AL21/375_.PDF |date=December 17, 2022 }}, from the state of NJ website, last access September 12, 2022</ref>

In a 2009 [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]] poll, a plurality supported [[same-sex marriage in New Jersey|same-sex marriage]] 49% to 43% opposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6776022&rss=rss-wpvi-article-6776022|title=Poll: NJ voters support gay marriage|publisher=Abclocal.go.com|date=April 23, 2009|access-date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604043330/http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=6776022&rss=rss-wpvi-article-6776022|archive-date=June 4, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> On October 18, 2013, the [[New Jersey Supreme Court]] rendered a provisional, unanimous (7–0) order authorizing same-sex marriage in the state, pending a legal appeal by Governor Chris Christie,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/nj_supreme_court_gay_marriage_christie.html|title=Same-sex weddings can begin pending appeal, N.J. Supreme Court rules|author=Salvador Rizzo|publisher=New Jersey On-Line LLC|date=October 18, 2013|access-date=October 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018204614/http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/nj_supreme_court_gay_marriage_christie.html|archive-date=October 18, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> who then withdrew this appeal hours after the inaugural same-sex marriages took place on October 21, 2013.<ref name="DroppedAppeal">{{cite web |author1=Melissa Hayes |author2=Kibret Markos |author3=Chris Harris |author4=Scott Fallon |date=October 21, 2013 |title=Christie drops appeal of ruling allowing gay marriage in NJ |url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/Christie_administration_withdraws_appeal_of_ruling_allowing_gay_marriage_in_NJ.html?page=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209185716/http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/Christie_administration_withdraws_appeal_of_ruling_allowing_gay_marriage_in_NJ.html?page=all |archive-date=February 9, 2014 |access-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref>

New Jersey also has some of the most stringent [[gun control]] laws in the U.S. These include bans on [[assault weapon|assault firearms]], hollow-nose bullets and slingshots. No gun offense in New Jersey is graded less than a felony. [[BB guns]] and black-powder guns are all treated as modern firearms. New Jersey does not recognize out-of-state gun licenses and aggressively enforces its own gun laws.<ref>[http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/NJSL.pdf NRAILA.org] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210170131/http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/NJSL.pdf |date=December 10, 2011 }}</ref>

In 2020, the state's voting population passed a public question<ref name=MJ>[https://ballotpedia.org/New_Jersey_Public_Question_1,_Marijuana_Legalization_Amendment_(2020) New Jersey Public Question 1, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2020)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227153849/https://ballotpedia.org/New_Jersey_Public_Question_1,_Marijuana_Legalization_Amendment_(2020) |date=February 27, 2024 }} on Ballotpedia.org, last access February 26, 2024.</ref> that amended the state constitution to legalize [[marijuana]] and erase past legal convictions for possession. The measure passed by a two-thirds vote. At the time the measure was enacted, about a dozen other U.S. states had also legalized the sale and possession of marijuana. As of 2024, local governments and municipalities are still in the process of regulating marijuana-related businesses within their jurisdictions.