Gun collectors and competitive shooters should be able to obtain exemptions to buy more than one handgun every 30 days, and the law should make clear that it does not apply to acquisitions by wholesale and retail gun dealers and manufacturers, according to the initial report by the Governor's Firearms Advisory Task Force.

People inheriting handguns also should be able to obtain exemptions, the report recommended.

Gloucester County Assemblyman John Burzichelli, a Democrat who served on the panel, said he would sponsor a bill to put the changes in place. He hopes to have the amendments approved before the law takes effect.

"This is a commonsense compromise that does nothing to impair the goal of protecting public safety by keeping criminals from obtaining multiple weapons at once," Burzichelli said. "These changes would correct some unintended consequences, while also protecting law-abiding citizens and legitimate businesses."

The law, which Gov. Corzine signed in the summer, is intended to deter "straw" purchasers, who buy guns legally and pass them to criminals. New Jersey is the fourth state with such limits, after California, Maryland, and Virginia. South Carolina repealed a similar law.

The task force was created to study New Jersey's version as part of a compromise that won the votes needed to move the bill through the Senate.

"We want these obstacles to a more sensible law removed as soon as possible," Burzichelli said in a statement.

Those seeking exemptions would have to apply to the state police superintendent. Penalties would be created for people who lie to get exceptions.

The law also should be clarified so as not to block people from returning and exchanging handguns they purchased, the task force said.

The nine-person panel included representatives from gun-control and gun-rights groups and officials from the state police and Attorney General's Office. It was chaired by Burlington County Prosecutor Robert Bernardi.

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