Any gun owners from NJ on this forum?

[inplainsight]

I recently read that a few gun owners from NJ, along with the NRA and 19 states, are appealing to the Supreme Court of change the way CCW permits are handled in the state.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02 ... apons-law/

Are handgun ownership and CCW laws really that restrictive in NJ?

[PeterTheFish]

I don't live in NJ but used to and the quick answer is Yes. You need a permit to buy a handgun. CCW is May Issue, and in NJ that is de dafacto non issue unless required for work or politically connected. CA is worse on handgun purchase.

There is a huge spread in the IS as to the nature and application of laws.

[timmy]

I live in NJ. You need a Firearms Purchase Permit to buy a gun. You need to register any handgun with your local police department.

There is no unincorporated land in NJ. Every square inch is incorporated into a city or boro of some sort or another, so there is a local police department, no matter where you live.

I work with someone who is married to a NJ State Trooper. Even he has to register his State Police service handgun with his local police department

No hollow point bullets are permitted in NJ and you can get into a heap of trouble if caught with them. One thing about NJ gun laws: You DO NOT want to violate them.

High capacity magazines and "assault rifles" (which, to most governmental agencies and police departments means anything that looks "evil") are against the law here.

Yes, the gun laws are quite restrictive -- some of the most restrictive in the USA.

[PeterTheFish]

No hollow point bullets are permitted in NJ and you can get into a heap of trouble if caught with them.

This is not correct. You are permitted to have and shoot hollow points. You cannot use them in a crime.

There's a law that needed to be passed.

[timmy]

No hollow point bullets are permitted in NJ and you can get into a heap of trouble if caught with them.

This is not correct. You are permitted to have and shoot hollow points. You cannot use them in a crime.

There's a law that needed to be passed.

I'm sorry, but you are not correct.

From Wikipedia:

The state of New Jersey bans possession of hollow point bullets by civilians except for ammunition possessed at one's dwelling, premises or other land owned or possessed. The law also requires all hollow point ammunition to be transported directly from the place of purchase to one's home, or by members of a rifle or pistol club directly to a place of target practice, or directly to an authorized target range from the place of purchase or one's home.

Article link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow-point_bullet

Here is the link to the NJ State Police site that outlines things: http://www.njsp.org/about/fire_hollow.html

However, this site also says on another page:

The New Jersey State Police is not authorized to provide legal advice to private parties.

For informational purposes only, New Jersey firearm laws and procedures may be derived from state and federal statutes, state and federal administrative codes, New Jersey Attorney General guidelines and case law. Please note that this information and these references may not be exhaustive in addressing your issue.

What this means is that you cannot necessarily use the information on this site as a legal defense.

You could also profit by reading this thread: http://njgunforums.com/forum/index.php/ ... ew-jersey/

Do you live in NJ, Peter the Fish? Or are you informing yourself to disagree with me because of something you read on the web?

If you lived here, you would realize what it means when I said that all of the state is incorporated. It means that every little postage stamp sized municipality has its own police force, members of which may or may not be conversant with the law about firearms in NJ, and even if they are, their memory may be selective if they want to hassle a citizen, who must then jump through legal hoops to remain out of jail and get their confiscated firearms back.

May I ask again, do you live in NJ?

Our Indian members are all to familiar with the application of the law by law by officials who are either not conversant with the laws regarding gun possession or choose to be. What can go on here, if one falls into the wrong situation, is similar.

I would like to know if you speak from personal knowledge and, if so, what that knowledge is. My knowledge comes from trying to navigate the laws here, which I will guarantee you, is not easy.

That information may be of interest to the OP of this thread and help him clarify the points he has in mind.

BTW, I am also somewhat familiar with Oak Tree Road, and have been considering a trip for a plate of biryani at Mirchi's and taking in a movie at the Big Cinema

[PeterTheFish]

I don't. I did. I believe I noted that previously.

The page you linked to but did not quote cites the statutory authority to own and possess hollow points and to shoot them at a range (and presumably but less explicitly on ones own land).

I'm not sure what my geographic location has to do with my understanding of the actual statutes in play or their application (e.g. State v. Aitken), other than to provide a convenient literary device for your condescending response.

If folks here are interested in knowledge of facts rather than legally unsubstantiated and outright incorrect assertions (Like "No hollow point bullets are permitted in NJ and you can get into a heap of trouble if caught with them.") then they would get much further with the information in my post than yours.

Aitken didn't get into a heap of trouble for getting caught with hollow point bullets. He got in trouble for breaking a pretty clear law about their possession (and violating a host of other gun laws any responsible gun owner would be aware of). In my experience, gross misinterpretations like yours tend to originate at monthly gun club meetings and would do well to end there, although they rarely do.

As far as dining options, we usually stick to Saravana Bhavan - not that a meal outside beats anything we can have with friends but the wife's family is from Chennai so there's some allegiance from that.

[timmy]

I'm not sure what my geographic location has to do with my understanding of the actual statutes in play or their application (e.g. State v. Aitken), other than to provide a convenient literary device for your condescending response.

I can see that you don't understand what your geographic location has to do with your understanding, because if all you understand are the actual statutes, you will not understand the situation in NJ.

I will admit, when I said that: "No hollow point bullets are permitted in NJ and you can get into a heap of trouble if caught with them." I did not speak correctly from a legal point of view. You are not precise when you say that this situation is the sum of the legal provisions of the law: "statutory authority to own and possess hollow points and to shoot them at a range."

Hollow points are permitted, but you and other members can see that this permit of hollow points is limited -- it has to do with hunting and sporting use, for instance. Try carrying hollow points in your Sig or Glock or 1911 and see how far your hunting/sportsman justification will get you.

I have tried twice now to get across to you that there are many municipalities in New Jersey. If you drive anywhere in the state, you will cross a few or many of them. Each has their own police department, and if you are picked up, you will be subject to what and how the officer on the spot chooses to handle your matter.

True, you may be able to get off if you have obeyed the law. But even in such cases, getting picked up and hassled may not be a very pleasant experience. Getting your weapon back can be questionable, and if you do, it may not come back in the same shape it was in when they took it. You could also very well spend some hefty legal fees getting everything straightened out, or trying to do so.

The point here is that the application of the law can be quite arbitrary here. When you say something like this: "If folks here are interested in knowledge of facts rather than legally unsubstantiated and outright incorrect assertions (Like "No hollow point bullets are permitted in NJ and you can get into a heap of trouble if caught with them.") then they would get much further with the information in my post than yours." you imply that you know the situation here, and that situation is that one has no fear if the law is obeyed. This is not true, and therefore, I seriously doubt that readers of this thread will get further with your information than mine.

Before I moved here, I picked through all of my boxes and stash to scrupulously ensure that no hollow points were contained anywhere. I would advise that to anyone. I'm not saying that there is a secret magic detector that will sniff out every hollow point, but I am saying that it is simply not worth the risk to carry them. For most hunting situations, especially what one might want to do here, they aren't needed. The only thing I could think of hollow points being used for would be varmint hunting, but that's something that goes on in Pennsylvania, anyway. I will not talk too much about this, but I will say that if you lived here, you would be able to hunt in Pennsylvania and use hollow points without ever having them in NJ. That is another subject and a specialized case, however.

I simply question your grasp of the situation here because of the theoretical issues you raise, which you would not if you knew what goes on here. The OP said "Are handgun ownership and CCW laws really that restrictive in NJ?"

You answered by saying, "Yes. You need a permit to buy a handgun."

This is technically accurate, but does not really answer the OP's question about the situation. (How can he ask about all the technical points if he doesn't know them in the first place?)

As I said, you need a permit to buy ANY gun in NJ, but for handguns, not only must you fulfill that requirement, you must also REGISTER that handgun with the local police officials. (Here, I would disagree with you specifically: Your information is not going to get the OP or anyone else "much further with the information in my post than yours," is it?

Also, you neglected to mention the fact that the law I posted the link to makes clear that hollow points are for sporting/hunting use, and that sporting/hunting use is not going to apply to carrying a handgun (which, again, is what the OP was asking about).

If you get caught with some 9mm or 45 ACP or 357 Mag hollow point here, you are going to be in a heap of trouble, sir. Then again, if you insist on pushing that, I will say no more. However, given the law, the view of handguns here, and the application of the laws by small township and boro police forces who probably know little about the law and may not be too concerned about it if they catch you carrying a handgun without having it registered and/or with hollow points, I would advise any IFG members visiting NJ or moving here to be very careful, forget hollow points, and remember, the police here have a very hostile view toward handguns.

If you want to pick technicalities about the law, go right ahead. But here in NJ, there are some similarities between here and India with regard to officials and gun laws, altho, of course, not as severe.

BTW, another thing to consider here in NJ is what effect a gun violation, or the accusation of a violation, may have on your employment. Mentioning to many -- I would say most -- people will look at you as if you are a criminal or a criminal in the making if they know you have or even like guns. Such adverse legal business may have an effect on someone's job.

I studied the laws before I moved here very carefully, and there are some obvious questions to which there really aren't answers. Some will advise getting the opinion of an attorney, because that can be used in a court if necessary (though it is not a guarantee).

It is not my intention to be condescending to you, sir, but I reiterate, I don't think you represent the situation here in New Jersey accurately, nor do you give the OP useful advice. You say, again, "If folks here are interested in knowledge of facts rather than legally unsubstantiated and outright incorrect assertions," I will note that you responded to him with legally unsubstantiated assertions (I posted links to give him the facts) and regarding "they would get much further with the information in my post than yours," you are just plain wrong.

[TwoRivers]

This is not correct. You are permitted to have and shoot hollow points. You cannot use them in a crime.

There's a law that needed to be passed.

Does that mean it's legal to use solid bullets in a crime in NJ. Crime is legal and only hollow point bullets are banned?

[timmy]

They aren't going to buy handgun hollow points -- you see in the law that they say use at a State Police sanctioned range, and that the use is for match and target shooting, but also practice. This is a big gray area: who uses hollow point handgun ammunition for match or target use? More demands for justification will be raised than Carter's has little liver pills.

Consider also, as you read these laws, you could theoretically carry hollow points to the range, and have them in your house, or buy them. (Good luck trying to find them in New Jersey!) So, you can buy them and have them in your house -- how do you get them to your house? Think about this -- you aren't going to buy them in New Jersey. Lots of questions. The laws loop about into all sorts of gray areas and on a cold and rainy night, when you get pulled over, you may be called upon to explain all of this.

I remember when we were here 24 years ago, one woman commented about shooting going on at a local trap club: "The criminals are practicing," like banks are robbed and drive-by shootings regularly occur with single barreled trap shotguns costing upwards of $1500. Then, in dealing with the overpopulation of deer, there was a move to eliminate all hunting and give birth control to the deer. When I heard that, I got this mental picture of a bunch of these dingbats trying to corner a buck in rut and apply the birth control. It sounds absurd, I know, but that's the thinking by the majority of folks here. It is quite different from the West or Texas, I can assure you.

[PeterTheFish]

I'm not sure what my geographic location has to do with my understanding of the actual statutes in play or their application (e.g. State v. Aitken), other than to provide a convenient literary device for your condescending response.

I can see that you don't understand what your geographic location has to do with your understanding, because if all you understand are the actual statutes, you will not understand the situation in NJ.

That's a ludicrous assertion. As if one needs be somewhere to be able to understand how the law operates and is applied? RI is May Issue by states, Shall Issue by towns. Before I moved here, I knew it was, de facto, may issue all over. I know California is a tough place to enjoy the shooting sports, and I've never stepped foot in that state. And of course, as I'm mentioning for the third time now, I did recently live in NJ and so do have some of that critical first hand knowledge you speak of.

I will admit, when I said that: "No hollow point bullets are permitted in NJ and you can get into a heap of trouble if caught with them." I did not speak correctly from a legal point of view. You are not precise when you say that this situation is the sum of the legal provisions of the law: "statutory authority to own and possess hollow points and to shoot them at a range."

I didn't qualify my statement as being "the sum of the legal provisions of the law." You neither spoke correctly from a legal nor factual view.

Hollow points are permitted, but you and other members can see that this permit of hollow points is limited -- it has to do with hunting and sporting use, for instance. Try carrying hollow points in your Sig or Glock or 1911 and see how far your hunting/sportsman justification will get you.

Carrying hollow points, even if you had a Carry Permit, is prohibited. Try breaking ANY firearms law and see how far that will get you. Or ANY law in general.

I have tried twice now to get across to you that there are many municipalities in New Jersey. If you drive anywhere in the state, you will cross a few or many of them. Each has their own police department, and if you are picked up, you will be subject to what and how the officer on the spot chooses to handle your matter.

I have tried to get across several times now that I have lived in NJ - I'm aware of that. There are also many states in the US, and many cities and towns in those states. And in any of them, even if you have a valid permit to carry, are protected by FOPA, are opening carry as permitted by state law, or are covered under a reciprocal agreement, you are subject to "how the officer on the spot chooses to handle your matter." That's not a problem specific to NJ, the East Coast, or the United States.

True, you may be able to get off if you have obeyed the law. But even in such cases, getting picked up and hassled may not be a very pleasant experience. Getting your weapon back can be questionable, and if you do, it may not come back in the same shape it was in when they took it. You could also very well spend some hefty legal fees getting everything straightened out, or trying to do so.

The point here is that the application of the law can be quite arbitrary here. When you say something like this: "If folks here are interested in knowledge of facts rather than legally unsubstantiated and outright incorrect assertions (Like "No hollow point bullets are permitted in NJ and you can get into a heap of trouble if caught with them.") then they would get much further with the information in my post than yours." you imply that you know the situation here, and that situation is that one has no fear if the law is obeyed. This is not true, and therefore, I seriously doubt that readers of this thread will get further with your information than mine.

I know the situation there, because I lived there. As a responsible gun owner, I also know the law there. And spreading factually incorrect information (without qualification) helps no one.

Before I moved here, I picked through all of my boxes and stash to scrupulously ensure that no hollow points were contained anywhere. I would advise that to anyone. I'm not saying that there is a secret magic detector that will sniff out every hollow point, but I am saying that it is simply not worth the risk to carry them. For most hunting situations, especially what one might want to do here, they aren't needed. The only thing I could think of hollow points being used for would be varmint hunting, but that's something that goes on in Pennsylvania, anyway. I will not talk too much about this, but I will say that if you lived here, you would be able to hunt in Pennsylvania and use hollow points without ever having them in NJ. That is another subject and a specialized case, however.

You didn't say it was not worth the risk to carry them. You said they were not permitted in the state. Those are two different things. Carrying them in a firearm would be a crime - something any responsible gun owner should suss out.

I simply question your grasp of the situation here because of the theoretical issues you raise, which you would not if you knew what goes on here. The OP said "Are handgun ownership and CCW laws really that restrictive in NJ?"

You answered by saying, "Yes. You need a permit to buy a handgun."

This is technically accurate, but does not really answer the OP's question about the situation. (How can he ask about all the technical points if he doesn't know them in the first place?)

In fact, my answer contained a bit more content than that. I also noted that it was a May Issue but de facto non issue state, that CA was worse, and that there was indeed a broad variety of firearm ownership laws in the US in general. Noting that a permit is needed to buy a handgun

As I said, you need a permit to buy ANY gun in NJ, but for handguns, not only must you fulfill that requirement, you must also REGISTER that handgun with the local police officials. (Here, I would disagree with you specifically: Your information is not going to get the OP or anyone else "much further with the information in my post than yours," is it?

You are free to disagree, but you are incorrect. My response was not meant to be absolute and all encompassing, nor was it presented in that manner. It provided a snapshot of some key elements of NJ firearm laws vs. the rest of the US. Yours was an absolute statement that 'hollow points are not permitted' and also incorrect.

Also, you neglected to mention the fact that the law I posted the link to makes clear that hollow points are for sporting/hunting use, and that sporting/hunting use is not going to apply to carrying a handgun (which, again, is what the OP was asking about).

The OP neither asked about hollow points nor about carrying a handgun for hunting or sporting use.

If you get caught with some 9mm or 45 ACP or 357 Mag hollow point here, you are going to be in a heap of trouble, sir. Then again, if you insist on pushing that, I will say no more. However, given the law, the view of handguns here, and the application of the laws by small township and boro police forces who probably know little about the law and may not be too concerned about it if they catch you carrying a handgun without having it registered and/or with hollow points, I would advise any IFG members visiting NJ or moving here to be very careful, forget hollow points, and remember, the police here have a very hostile view toward handguns.

If you want to pick technicalities about the law, go right ahead. But here in NJ, there are some similarities between here and India with regard to officials and gun laws, altho, of course, not as severe.

I am pointing out the actual state of the law ("Hollow points ARE permitted") - not picking technicalities. If you get caught with some 9mm hollow points in your home, you'll be in no trouble. If you carry your firearm loaded with hollow points grabbing groceries around town and get caught, you will be. The difference? One act is legal, one is not. And while one may always run afoul of law enforcement even while acting lawfully, you seem to keep confusing legal acts (owning hollow points) with illegal acts (possessing them outside the boundaries of the law.

BTW, another thing to consider here in NJ is what effect a gun violation, or the accusation of a violation, may have on your employment. Mentioning to many -- I would say most -- people will look at you as if you are a criminal or a criminal in the making if they know you have or even like guns. Such adverse legal business may have an effect on someone's job.

This is more Sunday morning gun club hokum. If you break a gun law it may have an effect on your career - no kidding! Same goes for a DUI. Or being accused of all sorts of things that aren't true.

I studied the laws before I moved here very carefully, and there are some obvious questions to which there really aren't answers. Some will advise getting the opinion of an attorney, because that can be used in a court if necessary (though it is not a guarantee).

New Jersey is one of the easier states in the Northeast. People seem to have problems interpreting the law when there's a list of 'permitted' activities. Folks seem to think, "But I want to do x, and it's not on the list of allowed activities. That's confusing!" It's not. You can't. And if you can't figure it out, then yes - get the opinion of an attorney, instead of doing what most folks do - getting the opinion of a clerk at the local gunshop or the communications committee at their club.

It is not my intention to be condescending to you, sir, but I reiterate, I don't think you represent the situation here in New Jersey accurately, nor do you give the OP useful advice. You say, again, "If folks here are interested in knowledge of facts rather than legally unsubstantiated and outright incorrect assertions," I will note that you responded to him with legally unsubstantiated assertions (I posted links to give him the facts) and regarding "they would get much further with the information in my post than yours," you are just plain wrong.

I'd like to point out that you're the one who started off by responding to the OP with legally unsubstantiated assertions. You stated something as fact which was incorrect. I corrected you. This is a forum - it's up to you or the poster to research who is correct - I'm not writing a brief here about why you're wrong. The fact of the matter is, hollow points are permitted in NJ, subject to legal restrictions. You might as well say "Handguns are not permitted in NJ" because not just anyone can stroll into a gunstore, buy one, and strap it to their hip on the way out. Ownership is legal, subject to restrictions.

/And man, for someone who says they're from NM, you really seem to have taken on a Jersey Centric view of the universe. Welcome to the 25% of the states in the US with heavy regulation of firearms and severe penalties to those who may unwittingly run afoul of those laws. It's not just New Jersey, and you don't need to live there to know that. I can't leave RI with nearly any firearm I own without depending on FOPA to protect me. Every time I drive to NH for a match I run the risk of a world of hurt from the police in MA. And forget about flying to a match. Can't transport a handgun via car to the airport without a CCW.

[timmy]

Look Peter, I really think you are the one who is guilty of what you seem to be happy to accuse others of.

Jersey-centric: That's what the OP asked about -- nothing else. If th eOP had asked about New Mexico, I could have told him, but he didn't, so why bother bringing it up. You are trying to bring in the universe to cover up the fact that you also responded to the OP with hearsay, and in an ad hominem attempt to cover your own arguments.

The fact is, yes, as I said, I did overstate the case. I believe I did say that. But as I said, the OP is going to have a tremendous burden proving that handgun hollow points are for the uses specified in the law. People are caught up here in the news for having them, and while the law is supposed to assume innocence until proven otherwise, things don't work that way here. You don't seem to want to admit that, which is why your statements are disconnected from reality.

Of course the OP didn't mention hollow points -- I already pointed out, if he knew everything to ask about he handgun situation here, he would need to ask, would he?

You don't need to live here to know the law -- that's true. But as I said those posted guidelines by the NJ State Police will loop around all over themselves and do not provide a clear picture on a lot of matters (such as hollow points). Those are the things that local law enforcement can use to trip up a citizen. Everyone living here knows about the many law enforcement entities -- it's one of the issues with the state tax budget as well, so it spills over into a lot more than guns and is a common topic of discussion here. But then again, since you lived here too, you knew all of that. You just forgot to mention it.

I will tell you, sir, if you think the threat to employment due to a gun charge in NJ is a bunch of smoke, you simply don't know what you are talking about.

The fact of the matter is, hollow points are permitted in NJ, subject to legal restrictions. You might as well say "Handguns are not permitted in NJ" because not just anyone can stroll into a gunstore, buy one, and strap it to their hip on the way out. Ownership is legal, subject to restrictions.

This is an example of the uselessness of your posts on the matter. You have your nose buried in the technicalities that you ignore what they are going to do to you if you have, say, 9mm hollow point ammo.

Welcome to the 25% of the states in the US with heavy regulation of firearms and severe penalties to those who may unwittingly run afoul of those laws. It's not just New Jersey, and you don't need to live there to know that.

Frankly, sir, this is disingenuous. Everyone connected with guns in the USA knows how bad NJ is about guns. It is no secret. Don't even try to say it's like 25% of other states.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/2013/03/14/g ... s-in-2013/

You are trying to reduce this to some sort of argument based on little technicalities that you can seize upon. Fine, and have at it. You are hardly reflecting the situation here, though you are throwing plenty of dust around. Well, have at it. I do sincerely hope that nobody goes by your advice on this matter, and that you don't come to NJ and try to live the way you talk.

[Sakobav]

Guys lets lay this to rest
simply put NJ and NYC have very stringent gun laws. I cant even buy ammo in NJ with NYC permit tried arguing with kid at Dicks and his simple answer was please dont create issues for me. I walked away and agree with Tim on ensuring that one doesnt carry any ammo in the car or luggage while travelling through NYC and NJ. I cant even keep more than 200 bullets in my home in NYC without a certification from Fire Department first! Few years ago so a son or relative bring his old ex cop relatives Browning HP pistol in with Old magazine more than 10 bullets. Lic guys had the poor guy hauled over the coals. This old cop wasnt backing down but they were throwing the book at their own retired colleague There is no winning just cross your i and ts and more

Cheers

[timmy]

I have been intending to revisit this issue for the purpose of giving a definitive answer. My intention has been to dig through all of the laws and quote the relevant parts. I found that I had printed out this NRA page, which I will include here:

http://nraila.org/gun-laws/state-laws/new-jersey.aspx

Having said this, I would like to point out a few things.

1. To buy any gun, note that you have to have a Firearms Purchaser's Identification Card (FID)

2. To purchase a handgun, you have to have a permit to purchase a handgun.

The difference between these two is (which you'll note if you read through the NRA document) to register the handgun with the local police. It is not called "registration," but that is exactly what it is. The idea here is that, when the cops are called to a local residence for any reason, they know whether there is a handgun in the premises. You can't inherit, give, or transfer the handgun to anyone else without their having this permit.

In this thread, I have mentioned how "circular" the New Jersey laws are. Read through the section called "Possession." It says that I have to have a FID to have a rifle or shotgun, except for a bullet list of exceptions. According to these exceptions, I can have a rifle and/or shotgun at home without a FID, I can transport it in a locked box from where I bought it to my home, or to the shooting range (if that range is registered with the state), etc. However, on returning to New Jersey this time, I was warned by shooters to make sure I had a FID, no matter what. All of these exceptions are at the interpretation of the officer who stops you, so again, you might eventually get off, but in the mean time your guns will be confiscated and you could rack up some legal bills. In other words, you can be legal, but the law enforcement can hassle you to such an extent that it is not worthwhile to be without the FID.

Just read through this Possession/FID section -- you will see, it doesn't even make sense! You can go to the actual law citations, which are listed to the end of the article, but the whole business is so ambiguous that a lot winds up being the interpretation of the local cop who stops you.

Next, as an example of the tomfoolery that goes on here, read the section "Restricted Firearms." There is a lot I could say here, but note the part where it talks about "legally possessed before May 1, 1990." This is when Florio was governor, and I was living here then, as well. The deal here was that the police were staunch supporters of gun rights in New Jersey. They all had their stashes of semi-auto rifles that Florio wanted to make illegal, and the police lobby in the statehouse blocked Florio's attempt to ban these guns. So, Florio cut a deal with them: They could keep all of their guns, but these guns would become illegal for anyone else to own after a certain date. The police lobbies switched their support to Florio and the bill was passed.

Anyway, this NRA rundown is the closest I could come to understanding the Byzantine labyrinth of New Jersey gun law. The bottom line is that a majority of people in New Jersey are against guns. Check out these figures: http://usliberals.about.com/od/Election ... lation.htm As I suspect the original poster was trying to find out, there are similarities between what goes on in India and what goes on in New Jersey with respect to gun ownership.

New Jersey

Updated as of Thursday, December 01, 2011.

Important/Relevant Gun Laws
RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS HANDGUNS
Permit to Purchase ID Card Required Yes
Registration of Firearms No No*
Licensing of Owners Yes Yes
Permit to Carry ID Card Required Yes
* Police record of all transfers required.

The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL.

Reciprocity
These states recognize New Jersey permits:Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, VermontNew Jersey recognizes permits from:None
Map of states recognizing New Jersey permits:

Print this mapPRINT MAP
New Jersey State Police: http://nj.gov/njsp/about/firearms.html

A synopsis of New Jersey state laws on purchase, possession and carrying of firearms.

PURCHASE
Rifles and Shotguns It is unlawful to sell, give, transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of or receive, purchase, or otherwise acquire a rifle or shotgun, other than an antique rifle or shotgun, unless the purchaser, assignee, donee, receiver, or holder is licensed as a dealer under New Jersey law or possesses a valid Firearms Purchasers Identification Card (FID), and first exhibits the FID to the seller, donor, transferrer, or assignor, and the purchaser, assignee, donee, receiver, or holder signs a written certification form that identifies the purchaser, his or her address and FID or dealer’s number, and states he or she presently is not disqualified from purchase.
A person is not restricted as to the number of rifles or shotguns they may purchase, provided they have a valid FID and the certification form requirements are met. The FID is required for private or dealer purchases.

Handguns

It is unlawful to sell, give, transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of, or receive, purchase, or otherwise acquire a handgun unless the purchaser, assignee, donee, receiver, or holder is licensed as a dealer under New Jersey law or has first secured a Permit to Purchase a handgun.

The permit must be in the form prescribed by the Superintendent of State Police and shall be issued to the applicant in quadruplicate. The applicant prior to the time he receives the handgun from the seller shall deliver to the seller the permit in quadruplicate and the seller shall complete all of the information required on the form.

Only one handgun shall be purchased or delivered for each permit. A permit is required for private or dealer purchases.

No handgun -(except antique handguns) may be delivered to any person unless accompanied by a trigger lock or a locked case, gun box, container or other secure facility.

Requirements for Obtaining Permit to Purchase or FID

The Police Chief of the municipality where the applicant resides or the Superintendent of State Police, in all other cases must, upon application, issue to any qualified applicant a Permit to Purchase or FID.

The fee for a Permit to Purchase is $2, to be submitted with the application. The Permit to Purchase is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance and may be renewed by the issuing authority for good cause for an additional 90 days. The FID fee is $5 to be submitted with the application. The FID is valid so long as the holder is eligible to obtain the FID. The applicant must be fingerprinted and pay a fingerprint fee of $54, unless the applicant already has an FID, or has previously been fingerprinted

The Permit to Purchase or FID must be granted to a qualified applicant within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application for residents and 45 days for nonresident applicants.

Applications for a Permit to Purchase or FID must be in the form prescribed by the Superintendent of State Police and set forth the follwoing:

name,
residence,
place of business,
age,
date of birth,
occupation,
sex,
physical description of the applicant,
whether the applicant is a citizen,
whether the applicant is an alcoholic, habitual drunkard, drug dependent person,
whether the applicant has ever been confined or committed to a mental institution or hospital for treatment or observation of a mental or psychiatric condition on a temporary, interim, or permanent basis,
whether the applicant has been attended, treated, or observed by any doctor or psychiatrist or at any hospital or mental institution on an inpatient or outpatient basis for any mental or psychiatric condition,
whether the applicant is presently or ever has been a member of any organization which advocates or approves acts of force and violence to overthrow the government, or which seeks to deny others their constitutional rights,
whether the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime or disorderly persons offense and
such other information as the superintendent shall deem necessary for the proper enforcement.
The applicant waives all rights of confidentiality relating to institutional confinement and must supply all necessary information on any mental or psychiatric treatment. The application must contain as references two reputable citizens personally acquainted with the applicant.

No conditions or requirements can be added to the form or content of the application, or required by the licensing authority for the issuance of a Permit to Purchase or FID, other than those that are specifically set forth in the statute.

No person of good character and good repute who is not subject to any of the disabilities can be denied a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card. No Permit to Purchase or FID will be issued to any:

Person who has been convicted of a crime.
Drug dependent person, or person who is confined for a mental disorder to a hospital, mental institution or sanitarium, or to a habitual drunkard.
Person who suffers from a physical defect or disease which would make it unsafe for him to handle firearms, to any person who has ever been confined for a mental disorder, or to any alcoholic unless any of the foregoing persons produce a certificate from a New Jersey licensed medical doctor or psychiatrist, or other satisfactory proof, that the applicant is no longer suffering from that particular disability in such a manner that would interfere with or handicap him in the handling of firearms.
Person who knowingly falsifies any information on the application forms.
Person under 18.
Person where the issuance would not be in the interest of the public health, safety, or welfare.
Person under the age of 21, in the case of a handgun or pistol.
Any person denied a Permit to Purchase or FID may request a hearing in the Superior Court of the county in which they reside or in the Superior Court of the county in which their application was filed. The request for a hearing must be made in writing within 30 days of the denial. A copy of the request shall be served on the police chief of the applicant’s residence, if the applicant is a New Jersey resident, and upon the Superintendent of State Police in all cases. A hearing will be held within 30 days of the receipt of the application for such hearing. No formal pleading and no filing fee shall be required as a preliminary to such hearing.

HIDE
POSSESSION
It is unlawful to knowingly possess any handgun, including any antique handgun, without first having obtained a Permit to Carry, and it is unlawful to knowingly possess any rifle or shotgun without having first obtained a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card (FID), however, no Permit to Carry or FID is required:
To keep or carry any firearm about a person’s place of business, residence, premises, or other land owned or possessed by him; a place of business shall be deemed a fixed location.
To carry any firearm unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported and the course of travel shall include only such deviations as are reasonably necessary under the circumstances from any place of purchase to his residence or place of business, between his dwelling and his place of business, from one place of business or residence and another when moving, or between his dwelling or place of business and place where such firearms are repaired, for the purpose of repair.
To transport such firearms as necessary for target practice, in the manner described in paragraph 2 above, by a member of a gun club organized in accordance with the rules prescribed by the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice in going to or from a place of target practice, provided the club has filed a copy of its charter with the Superintendent of State Police and annually submits a list of its members to the superintendent.
To transport any firearm, in the manner described in paragraph 2 above, while traveling:
Directly to or from any place for the purpose of hunting or fishing, provided such person has in his possession a valid hunting or fishing license.
Directly to or from any target range or other authorized place for the purpose of practice, match, target, trap or skeet shooting exhibitions.
Directly to or from any exhibition or display of firearms which is sponsored by any law enforcement agency, any gun club or gun collectors club for the purpose of displaying the firearms to the public or to members of such organization or club, provided that not less than 30 days prior to such exhibition or display notice shall be given to the Superintendent of State Police by the sponsoring organization or club and the sponsor has complied with such reasonable safety regulations as the superintendent may promulgate.
To carry a firearm in the woods or fields or upon the waters of this State for the purpose of hunting, target practice, or fishing, provided that the firearm is legal and appropriate for hunting or fishing purposes in this State and the person possesses a valid hunting license, or, with respect to fresh water fishing, a valid fishing license.
To transport firearms by a licensed dealer in firearms and his registered employees during the course of normal business, provided the firearms are transported in the manner described in the second paragraph above.
For members of the armed forces or National Guard while on duty or traveling between places of duty and carrying authorized weapons.
For federal law enforcement officers and any other federal officers and employees required to carry firearms in the performance of their official duties.
For law enforcement officers, vehicle inspectors, prosecutors, and assistant prosecutors.
For guards and persons with limited police or arrest powers while in the performance of their duties.
For out-of-state law enforcement officers while actually engaged in official duties, provided that the Superintendent of State Police, or the police chief, or county prosecutor of the county where the out-of-state officer is engaged in official duties has been notified.
The FID requirement for rifles and shotguns does not apply to antique firearms, provided that such antique firearms are unloaded or are being fired for the purposes for exhibition or demonstration at an authorized range or in such other manner as has been approved in writing by the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality.

It is unlawful to knowingly possess any firearm in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of any school, college, university or other educational institution without the written authorization of the governing officer of the institution, irrespective of whether the person possesses a valid permit to carry the firearm or a valid firearms purchaser identification card. This prohibition does not apply to persons listed in paragraphs 7 through 11 above.

A Permit to Purchase or FID is not required for the passing of a firearm other than an assault firearm upon the owner’s death to his heir or estate.

No person under 18 may possess, carry, fire, or use a firearm except:

In the actual presence or under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian, or some other person who holds a Permit to Carry or FID; or
For the purpose of military drill under the auspices of a legally recognized military organization and under competent supervision; or
For the purpose of competition or target practice on a firing range approved by the governing body of the municipality in which the range is located or the National Rifle Association and which is under competent supervision at the time of such supervision or target practice; or
For the purpose of hunting during the regularly designated hunting season, provided he possesses a valid hunting license and has successfully completed a hunter’s safety course.
No person may possess, control, own, or purchase any firearm if he has:

Been convicted of aggravated assault, arson, burglary, escape, extortion, homicide, kidnapping, robbery, sexual assault; bias intimidation or endangering the welfare of a child; or any weapons offense; or any domestic violence offense including crime such as harassment, stalking or criminal restraint.
Ever been committed for a mental disorder to any hospital, mental institution, or sanitarium unless he possesses a certificate of a medical doctor or psychiatrist licensed in New Jersey or other satisfactory proof that he is no longer suffering from a mental disorder which interferes with or handicaps him in the handling of a firearm.
Been convicted for the unlawful use, possession, or sale of a controlled dangerous substance.
Subject to a court order pursuant to New Jersey law prohibiting the person from possessing any firearm.
It is unlawful to knowingly possess “any hollow nose, dum-dum, or body armor penetrating bullet.” A person may keep such ammunition at his dwelling, premises, or other land owned or possessed by him, or carry such ammunition from the place of purchase to said dwelling or land. Military and law enforcement personnel and retail dealers may possess restricted ammunition, provided records are kept of purchasers. A federally licensed collector may possess no more than three examples of each distinctive variation of restricted ammunition.

HIDE
CARRYING
It is unlawful to knowingly have in your possession a: Handgun, including any antique handgun, without first obtaining a Permit to Carry. No distinction is drawn between carrying openly or concealed. Rifle or shotgun without first obtaining a FID card. It is Illegal to carry a loaded shotgun or rifle in any vehicle, or to shoot from any vehicle or across any road.
The exceptions listed in paragraphs 1 through 11 listed under POSSESSION also apply to CARRYING.

Application for a for Permit to Carryis made to the police chief where the applicant resides or to the Superintendent of State Police if the community does not have a police chief or if the applicant is a nonresident. The licensing authority makes a recommendation to a judge of the Superior Court who grants or denies the permit. The judge may also place restrictions on the permit. The permit is valid for two years and costs $20.

The applicant must meet the requirements of the Permit to Purchase and FID, provide personal information, be fingerprinted, prove his familiarity with the use of handguns, have three reputable people knowing the person for at least three years and have a “justifiable need to carry a handgun.”

A description, including serial number, of every handgun which the applicant intends to carry must be provided. Only one permit need be obtained for all such handguns.

NOTE: Issuance of the permit is almost completely discretionary, and New Jersey courts have upheld the policy of strictly limiting permits “to persons specifically employed in security work . . . and to others who can establish an urgent necessity for carrying guns for self-protection.”

Failure to give notice to an applicant within 60 days is deemed to be an approval of the permit. The procedure for appealing a denial is the same as appealing a denial of a Permit to Purchase or FID.

HIDE
ANTIQUES AND REPLICAS
“Antique Firearm” means any rifle or shotgun incapable of being fired or discharged; or which does not fire fixed ammunition, regardless of date of manufacture; or was manufactured before 1898 for which cartridge ammunition is not commercially available, and is possessed as a curiosity or ornament or for its historical significance or value.
“Antique handgun” is a handgun manufactured before 1898, or a replica thereof, which is recognized as being historical in nature or of historical significance and either utilizes a match, friction, flint, or percussion ignition, or a pin-fire cartridge in which the pin is part of the cartridge; or does not fire fixed ammunition or for which cartridge ammunition is not commercially available.

HIDE
MACHINE GUNS
A machine gun is any firearm, mechanism, or instrument not requiring that the trigger be pressed for each shot and having a reservoir, belt or other means of storing and carrying ammunition which can be loaded into the firearm, mechanism, or instrument and fired.
Possession, purchase, or sale of a machine gun without a license is prohibited. A license can be obtained by applying to a judge of the Superior Court where the applicant resides or, if a nonresident, where business is conducted. Manufacture, shipping and transport of a machine gun without a license is also prohibited.

No license shall be issued unless the applicant would qualify for a Permit to Carry and the court finds “that the public safety and welfare so require.” The license is valid for one year, unless otherwise provided by the court. The court may also attach such conditions and limitations to the license as it deems to be in the public interest.

HIDE
RESTRICTED FIREARMS
New Jersey law restricts the ownership of certain semi-automatic and other firearms based upon their military appearance. A specific list of restricted “assault firearms” is maintained by the New Jersey State Police. It includes many widely available firearms, and is subject to change and modification. Contact the New Jersey State Police for Information regarding which firearms are “assault firearms.”
An “assault firearm” includes any semiautomatic shotgun with either a magazine capacity exceeding six rounds, a conspicuous pistol grip, or a folding stock; a semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine capacity exceeding 15 rounds; a part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an “assault firearm,” or any combination of parts from which an “assault firearm” may be readily assembled. Any magazine with a capacity greater than fifteen rounds is prohibited, even if there is no semi-automatic firearm to accompany the magazine unless the person has a registered “assault firearm” and the magazine is used for DCM sanctioned shooting matches.

Any “assault firearm” legally possessed before May 1, 1990 is illegal unless that firearm was registered before May 1, 1991. Any “assault firearm” which was not owned prior to May 1, 1990, must be licensed. The licensing procedures for an “assault firearm” are the same as those listed in MACHINE GUNS, above.

Upon the death of the owner of a properly licensed “assault firearm,” the owner’s heirs or estate have 90 days if unable to get a license to either transfer the firearm to any person or firm lawfully entitled to own or possess such firearm, render the firearm inoperable, voluntarily surrender it, or remove the firearm from New Jersey to a state where the “assault firearm” would be legal.

HIDE
PREEMPTION
Court precedent holds that the state legislature generally preempts the field of firearms law.
HIDE
Range Protection
An owner of a handgun, rifle, shotgun, skeet shooting or trapshooting range in this State shall be immune from liability where the liability is based upon noise resulting from normal operation of the range...
13:1G-21. 2. Owner of shooting range; limited immunity from civil liability for noise

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 21 of P.L.1971, c. 418 (C.13:1G-21) to the contrary, an owner of a handgun, rifle, shotgun, skeet shooting or trapshooting range in this State shall be immune from liability where the liability is based upon noise resulting from normal operation of the range in any civil proceeding, or in any proceeding brought pursuant to the “Noise Control Act of 1971,” P.L.1971, c. 418 (C.13:1G-1 et seq.).

Nothing in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing damage by his willful, wanton, or grossly negligent act of commission or omission.

13:1G-21. 3. Applicability

This act shall apply only to a handgun, rifle, shotgun, skeet shooting or trapshooting range located in this State which has been maintained continuously in the same location since January 24, 1972.

HIDE
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
It is unlawful to discharge any incendiary or tracer ammunition, except for law enforcement or military purposes except that non-incendiary tracer shotgun ammunition may be used on trap and skeet ranges for target shooting purposes.
It is unlawful for any person to advertise to sell a machine gun, semi-automatic rifle, or assault firearm in newspaper circulating within New Jersey if the ad does not specify that the purchaser shall hold a valid license to purchase and possess a machine gun or assault firearm, or a valid FID card to purchase and possess an automatic or semi-automatic rifle.

It is unlawful for any person to deface a firearm, or to knowingly have in his possession any firearm which has been defaced, except an antique firearm or antique handgun.

Civilians are prohibited from possessing silencers, shotguns with an overall length less than 26 inches or a barrel less than 18 inches, and rifles with an overall length less than 26 inches or a barrel less than 16 inches in length.

It is unlawful to loan money where the security for the loan is a firearm.

It is unlawful to riot with a firearm or deadly weapon.

Retail gun dealers and their employees must be licensed by the judge of the Superior Court in the county where the business is located.

All wounds arising from or caused by a firearm must be reported at once to the police.

Every conviction of a non-citizen for violating New Jersey’s gun laws must be certified to the proper officer of the United States Government by the county prosecutor or attorney general.

Unless allowed under exemptions for minors listed in the POSSESSION section above, it is unlawful to leave a loaded firearm within reach or easy access of a person under 16. This provision does not apply to a firearm stored in a securely locked box or container; or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure; or securely locked with a trigger lock; or under circumstances where a minor obtained a firearm as a result of an unlawful entry by person.

Wholesale and retail dealers of firearms must conspicuously post at each purchase counter, printed in block letters not less than one inch in height a warning that it is a criminal offense to leave a loaded gun within access of a minor.

It is unlawful to manufacture, transport, ship, sell, or dispose of a large capacity magazine. A large capacity magazine is considered a box, drum, tube, or other container, which is capable of holding more than fifteen (15) rounds of ammunition to be fed continuously and directly into a semi-automatic firearm.



HIDE
SOURCES: N.J. Stat. Ann. 2C:25-29; 2C:33-1; 2C:39-1; 2C:39-2; 2C:39-3; 2C:39-4; 2C:39-4.1; 2C:39-5; 2C:39-6; 2C:39-6.1; 2C:39-7; 2C:39-9; 2C:39-15; 2C:58-3; 2C:58-3.1; 2C:58-3.2; 2C:58-4; 2C:58-5; 2C:58-6.1; 2C:58-8; 2C:58-9; 2C:58-12; 2C:58-13; 2C:58-15; 2C:58-16; 2C:58-17; 23:4-16; 23:4-24.1

CAUTION: Firearm laws are subject to frequent change and court interpretation. This summary is not intended as legal advice or restatement of law. This summary does not include federal or local laws, ordinances or regulations. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL.

This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.