7. Places where the carrying of a firearm or destructive device is prohibited. a. Except as otherwise provided in this section and in the case of a brief, incidental entry onto property, which shall be deemed a de minimis infraction within the contemplation of N.J.S.2C:2-11, it shall be a crime of the third degree for any person, other than a person lawfully carrying a firearm within the authorized scope of an exemption set forth in N.J.S.2C:39-6, to knowingly carry a firearm as defined in subsection f. of N.J.S.2C:39-1 and a crime of the second degree to knowingly possess a destructive device as defined in subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:39-1 in any of the following places, including in or upon any part of the buildings, grounds, or parking area of: (1) a place owned, leased, or under the control of State, county or municipal government used for the purpose of government administration, including but not limited to police stations; (2) a courthouse, courtroom, or any other premises used to conduct judicial or court administrative proceedings or functions; (3) a State, county, or municipal correctional or juvenile justice facility, jail and any other place maintained by or for a governmental entity for the detention of criminal suspects or offenders; (4) a State-contracted half-way house; (5) a location being used as a polling place during the conduct of an election and places used for the storage or tabulation of ballots; (6) within 100 feet of a place where a public gathering, demonstration or event is held for which a government permit is required, during the conduct of such gathering, demonstration or event; (7) a school, college, university or other educational institution, and on any school bus; (8) a child care facility, including a day care center; (9) a nursery school, pre-school, zoo, or summer camp; (10) a park, beach, recreation facility or area or playground owned or controlled by a State, county or local government unit, or any part of such a place, which is designated as a gun-free zone by the governing authority based on considerations of public safety; (11) youth sports events, as defined in N.J.S.5:17-1, during and immediately preceding and following the conduct of the event, except that this provision shall not apply to participants of a youth sports event which is a firearm shooting competition to which paragraph (3) of subsection b. of section 14 of P.L.1979, c.179 (C.2C:58-6.1) applies; (12) a publicly owned or leased library or museum; (13) a shelter for the homeless, emergency shelter for the homeless, basic center shelter program, shelter for homeless or runaway youth, children's shelter, child care shelter, shelter for victims of domestic violence, or any shelter licensed by or under the control of the Juvenile Justice Commission or the Department of Children and Families; (14) a community residence for persons with developmental disabilities, head injuries, or terminal illnesses, or any other residential setting licensed by the Department of Human Services or Department of Health; (15) a bar or restaurant where alcohol is served, and any other site or facility where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises; (16) a Class 5 Cannabis retailer or medical cannabis dispensary, including any consumption areas licensed or permitted by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission established pursuant to section 31 of P.L.2019, c.153 (C.24:6I-24); (17) a privately or publicly owned and operated entertainment facility within this State, including but not limited to a theater, stadium, museum, arena, racetrack or other place where performances, concerts, exhibits, games or contests are held; (18) a casino and related facilities, including but not limited to appurtenant hotels, retail premises, restaurant and bar facilities, and entertainment and recreational venues located within the casino property; (19) a plant or operation that produces, converts, distributes or stores energy or converts one form of energy to another; (20) an airport or public transportation hub; (21) a health care facility, including but not limited to a general hospital, special hospital, psychiatric hospital, public health center, diagnostic center, treatment center, rehabilitation center, extended care facility, skilled nursing home, nursing home, intermediate care facility, tuberculosis hospital, chronic disease hospital, maternity hospital, outpatient clinic, dispensary, assisted living center, home health care agency, residential treatment facility, residential health care facility, medical office, or ambulatory care facility; (22) a facility licensed or regulated by the Department of Human Services, Department of Children and Families, or Department of Health, other than a health care facility, that provides addiction or mental health treatment or support services; (23) a public location being used for making motion picture or television images for theatrical, commercial or educational purposes, during the time such location is being used for that purpose; (24) private property, including but not limited to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, institutional or undeveloped property, unless the owner has provided express consent or has posted a sign indicating that it is permissible to carry on the premises a concealed handgun with a valid and lawfully issued permit under N.J.S.2C:58-4, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to affect the authority to keep or carry a firearm established under subsection e. of N.J.S.2C:39-6; and (25) any other place in which the carrying of a firearm is prohibited by statute or rule or regulation promulgated by a federal or State agency. b. (1) A person, other than a person lawfully carrying a firearm within the authorized scope of an exemption set forth in subsection a., c., or l. of N.J.S.2C:39-6, who is otherwise authorized under the law to carry or transport a firearm shall not do so while in a vehicle in New Jersey, unless the handgun is unloaded and contained in a closed and securely fastened case, gunbox, or locked unloaded in the trunk of the vehicle. (2) A holder of a valid and lawfully issued permit to carry a handgun shall not leave a handgun outside of their immediate possession or control within a parked vehicle, unless the handgun is unloaded and contained in a closed and securely fastened case, or gunbox, and is not visible from outside of the vehicle, or is locked unloaded in the trunk or storage area of the vehicle. A violation of paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection is a crime of the fourth degree. c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections a. and b. of this section, the holder of a valid and lawfully issued permit to carry under N.J.S.2C:58-4 who is otherwise prohibited under this section from carrying a concealed firearm into the parking area of a prohibited location specified in subsection a. of this section shall be permitted to: (1) transport a concealed handgun or ammunition within a vehicle into or out of the parking area, provided that the handgun is unloaded and contained in a closed and securely fastened case, gunbox, or locked unloaded in the trunk or storage area of the vehicle; (2) store a handgun or ammunition within a locked lock box and out of plain view within the vehicle in the parking area; (3) transport a concealed handgun in the immediate area surrounding their vehicle within a prohibited parking lot area only for the limited purpose of storing or retrieving the handgun within a locked lock box in the vehicle's trunk or other place inside the vehicle that is out of plain view; and (4) transport a concealed handgun between a vehicle parked within a prohibited parking lot area and a place other than a prohibited place enumerated in subsection a. of this section, provided that the person immediately leaves the parking lot area and does not enter into or on the grounds of the prohibited place with the handgun. d. The holder of a valid and lawfully issued permit to carry under N.J.S.2C:58-4 shall not be in violation of subsection a. of this section while the holder is traveling along a public right-of-way that touches or crosses any of the places enumerated in subsection a. of this section if the concealed handgun is carried on their person in accordance with the provisions of this act or is being transported in a vehicle by the permit holder in accordance with all other applicable provisions of law. e. (1) Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit the holder of a valid and lawfully issued permit under N.J.S.2C:58-4 who is lawfully authorized to provide security at a place enumerated in subsection a. of this section from carrying a firearm, openly or concealed, provided that the authorization is set forth in writing, and only to the extent permitted by the entity responsible for security at the place in question. (2) Unless otherwise required or prohibited by law, the owner or entity in control of any place enumerated in subsection a. of this section or owner or entity responsible for providing security may allow or prohibit retired law enforcement officers who are authorized to possess and carry a handgun pursuant to subsection l. of N.J.S.2C:39-6 or qualified retired law enforcement officers within the meaning of the federal "Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004," Pub.L. 108-277 to carry a concealed handgun on the premises of such place. f. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an employee of an armored car company who is the holder of a valid and lawfully issued permit to carry a handgun issued pursuant to N.J.S.2C:58-4 who is contractually authorized to provide services for a client at a place enumerated in subsection a. of this section from carrying a firearm, openly, in the regular course of employment. g. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the carrying or transporting of a firearm in accordance with subsections e. and f. of N.J.S.2C:39-6 or where it is otherwise expressly authorized by law. L.2022, c.131, s.7.