Edward Paltzik

Patriot Brief

• New Jersey authorities moved to settle after an arguably unconstitutional gun seizure.

• Elsid Aliaj’s firearms and ID card are being returned after legal pressure.

• State officials withdrew demands for private medical records.

This case is a textbook example of how quickly “temporary” government overreach can turn into months of constitutional harm. Elsid Aliaj didn’t commit a crime, wasn’t charged with violence, and wasn’t even the subject of the medical incident that triggered the seizure — yet he was disarmed for eight months. Only after a federal lawsuit backed by the Second Amendment Foundation and New Jersey Firearms Owners Syndicate did authorities suddenly rediscover restraint and a willingness to “settle.”

That timing matters. Rights weren’t restored because officials realized they were wrong; they were restored because they were cornered legally. The quiet withdrawal of motions and the sudden return of property strongly suggest officials knew their case wouldn’t survive judicial scrutiny. In New Jersey, where gun owners routinely face bureaucratic stonewalling even after court victories, the speed of this reversal speaks volumes. This wasn’t a misunderstanding — it was an infringement that only stopped when it became inconvenient. That alone warrants closer scrutiny statewide.

From Bearing Arms:

A New Jersey man’s firearms and permits were confiscated by authorities after a weird series of events and possible malfeasance. After filing suit, his oppressors indicate they want to settle.

Elsid Aliaj had his firearms confiscated by the Fort Lee, N.J. police department. After an event that had to do with his wife and a miscommunication at a hospital, Aliaj ended up having his firearms and firearms identification card confiscated. The case is beyond strange and in the time since the lawsuit was filed, both the Bergen County Prosecutor’s office and Fort Lee Police Department want to quietly put this debacle to bed.

As previously reported, Aliaj’s wife was hospitalized with some pregnancy-related health concerns. The hospital wrongfully had her involuntarily committed. The confusion stemmed from language barriers and a misunderstanding. After the hospitalization occurred is when the authorities executed the seizure. In the wake of the warrantless seizure, the authorities also demanded that Aliaj produce copies of his wife’s medical documents — of which he has no authority to produce and further, she’s not a party to the matter involving the seizure.

Approximately six weeks ago Aliaj filed a lawsuit backed by the Second Amendment Foundation and New Jersey Firearms Owners Syndicate in the federal U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. On Dec.12, NJFOS posted on X an announcement that the county and borough wanted to settle the case.

“Both the Borough of Fort Lee and the Bergen County Prosecutors Office have begun the process to settle this case. As part of that settlement process, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office has withdrawn it’s [sic] motions for the revocation of Elsid’s FID card and the motion to produce Elsid’s wife’s mental health records,” the post stated. “While there is much more work to do to finalize a settlement, Ed Paltzik went over to Fort Lee today with Elsid to take back his constitutionally protected property.”

Accompanying the post was a copy of the letter sent to Aliaj’s attorney, Edward Paltzik, and a selfie of the pair with Aliaj holding a firearms case.

“The State respectfully requests that the Motion to revoke Elsid Aliaj’s Firearms Purchaser Identification Card and Compelling the Sale of his Firearms be WITHDRAWN at the present time,” the letter stated. “Any additional motions pertaining to the production of medical records are also WITHDRAWN.

“The State has arranged for Mr. Aliaj’s firearms to be returned to Mr. Aliaj by the Fort Lee Police Department. Mr. Aliaj can contact Detectives Pothos or Bakas in the Fort Lee Property Room via telephone at [redacted] between the hours of 9:00AM to 4:00PM, Monday through Friday, to arrange for the release of his firearms.”

Bill Sack is the director of legal operations for the Second Amendment Foundation. When contacted for comment, Sack said that the parties indicating they want to have settlement talks is encouraging.

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