State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. John Terra Ingram, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed the conviction of John Terra Ingram. It held that the lack of a required handgun permit is an essential element of the unlawful possession offense and that the statutory presumption that a defendant does not possess a permit, absent proof to the contrary, is constitutionally valid under due‑process principles. The burden of persuasion remains on the State, although a jury may infer the absence of a permit.