Hi From NJ, the PITA state!

[robanna]

Hi All,

Wanted to introduce myself. I am 34 and have been away from shooting guns for about 27 years!!!

Anyway, after shooting skeet and handguns during a trip to see friends in Colorado last week, my wife and I have the bug.

I'm in the process of filing my permit now and first thing I've realized is how much red tape NJ requires citizens to fulfill BEFORE granting a permit. I need three references that cannot be family. I don't live near many of my friends so to expedite things I'm trying to get neighbors. During that process, I've learned just how funny about guns people can be. One neighbor was visibly uncomfortable with the idea of being a referral for me. I've known him for 5 years and have had a nice relationship too, but he was really uncomfortable, which made me uncomfortable. Anyway, he agreed to do it, but now I feel bad.

After all of this garbage is complete, I have to wait up to 14 weeks for the permit to be granted, despite a maximum 30 day wait as specified in the Consitution. Oh well, more of a reason to dislike NJ politics.

Sorry the longwinded intro. I'm excited to join in the online exchanges and am learning so much in the short time I've lurked here.

Thanks for all of the great info and I'm sure I'll be asking questions really soon. Until then, I'll STFA!

[zimman20]

Hi All,

Wanted to introduce myself. I am 34 and have been away from shooting guns for about 27 years!!!

Anyway, after shooting skeet and handguns during a trip to see friends in Colorado last week, my wife and I have the bug.

I'm in the process of filing my permit now and first thing I've realized is how much red tape NJ requires citizens to fulfill BEFORE granting a permit. I need three references that cannot be family. I don't live near many of my friends so to expedite things I'm trying to get neighbors. During that process, I've learned just how funny about guns people can be. One neighbor was visibly uncomfortable with the idea of being a referral for me. I've known him for 5 years and have had a nice relationship too, but he was really uncomfortable, which made me uncomfortable. Anyway, he agreed to do it, but now I feel bad.

After all of this garbage is complete, I have to wait up to 14 weeks for the permit to be granted, despite a maximum 30 day wait as specified in the Consitution. Oh well, more of a reason to dislike NJ politics.

Sorry the longwinded intro. I'm excited to join in the online exchanges and am learning so much in the short time I've lurked here.

Thanks for all of the great info and I'm sure I'll be asking questions really soon. Until then, I'll STFA!

For my first post on this forum (howdy y'all, thanks for having me, I'm laying low because I'm also a complete gun noob looking to learn so I'm STFU'ing and laying low!) I'll tell you I used to live in NJ and never would have thought to pursue owning a gun there for the very reasons you describe.

People look askance at folks who want to own guns because they've been brainwashed that guns are bad. It's insidious. There may come a day (and I hope I'm wrong) that your neighbor who is now uncomfortable with your choice may need a firearm to defend himself and/or his family.

I moved to NC because I could_not_stand NJ politics anymore. It sickened me *daily*. Born and raised there, left some family and good friends behind to make a new life somewhere else because of it...and taxes!

Anyway, welcome from a fellow noob and good luck on your permit process.

[robanna]

Hiya Zimm, I don't want to turn this post into an "I hate NJ" thread, but you're right on. I envy that you had the ballz to leave. I would move to CO in a heartbeat, but my wife is very attached to her family and it would never fly. I'm going to start with a condo in the future and see where things go. I have a 2 year old so we've really got about 4-5 years to figure our living situation out.

I own a business that could easily operate anywhere, so location is not a problem. Here's some quick math that makes my mouth water.

NJ: 3BR house = $500k; taxes 1/4 acre = $8k/year

CO: 5BR house = $250k; taxes 1/4 acre = $1800/year (best school district)

There's a lot to be thankful for in NJ, but CO just felt more like America to me.

Anyway, good luck learning about guns as we're both noobs!

[drummin man 627]

Hey guys, What "Exit" are you from? (That's a N.J. joke)
I was born and raised in Long Branch, and had a small music store in Belmar for twenty years. The B.S. in Jersey was so bad that I gave up trying to excercise my 2nd Amendment rights, so I surely know what "youse" are going through.
I always got looked at as if I was some kind of whacko when I tried to find someone to help me to get into shooting.
I could rant on, but I won't.
I solved that problem when I moved to Florida. I got my first-ever handgun at age 55, two months after arriving here.
Illegal guns are easier to obtain than legal ones, but, I wouldn't go that route.
Good Luck.

[zimman20]

I was in Jackson (Exit 7A, lol) but originally from Sayreville/Woodbridge and we had our first house in Piscataway.

I can buy a shotgun/rifle here without a permit or a firearms ID card from what I understand...just need to request a purchase permit from the local Sheriff's office to buy a handgun. Not sure how long that process takes but it's a heck of a lot less adversarial than where I came from, eh what?

[robanna]

Hey guys, What "Exit" are you from? (That's a N.J. joke)

LOL, I'm exit 135 off the GSP. I've got two out of three referrals in hand and am waiting on the third. I hope to submit and get fingerprinted next Tuesday.

The good news is that my local gun dealer--Ray's Sport Shop--stocks S&W and Walther. That's good, because I'm interested in trying the M&P 9mm as well as the P99 A/S (thanks to Shipwreck )

Unfortunately, they don't have Sigs, but I'd like to try an HK if possible. Hope they have it to test drive.

Exciting stuff!

[drummin man 627]

Good luck guys. Persevere. Don't give up like I did. I gave up when they told me "Anywhere between 6 weeks to 6 months." That was just for the Purchase Permit. Then, I only would have had 30 days after that to make the actual purchase.
The L.B. police sent me to the State Police, just to get the forms. One runaround after another. And I was an Honorably Discharged Viet Nam Vet.
Uh Oh, I'm ranting.

[zimman20]

Good luck guys. Persevere. Don't give up like I did. I gave up when they told me "Anywhere between 6 weeks to 6 months." That was just for the Purchase Permit. Then, I only would have had 30 days after that to make the actual purchase.
The L.B. police sent me to the State Police, just to get the forms. One runaround after another. And I was an Honorably Discharged Viet Nam Vet.
Uh Oh, I'm ranting.

That sucks, Dan...glad you outlasted 'em.

Robanna - I'm familiar with Ray's, driven by it many times but never stopped in because I knew the grief related with attempting to own in NJ.

I think I might head over to the Sheriff's office today or tomorrow to apply for the purchase permit, I let you know what they tell me the lead time is, maybe you're curious compared to the NJ wait.

I'm intrigued by the Beretta PX4, 40 cal. I do want to rent different pieces at the local places to see if my mind changes at all, don't know if/where I might be able to rent the PX4. I've shot various models in the past but it was a long time ago and it wasn't in the 'what might I like to own' mode, if you KWIM.

Let us know what you decide on and how your application goes.

[robanna]

Zimm Good luck to you too. I'll keep you guys updated. Rays has a mixed rep, but it's the only game in town and they do have a range and good selection.

[JimmySays]

Welcome from Texas and welcome back to shooting. Good luck obtaining a firearm in N.J.

[Redseal]

I lived in NJ most of my life and just recently moved to Pennsylvania. It's like living in another Country. you need a Drivers License to Purchase firearms ( long guns and handguns) and my concealed carry license took 2 weeks to get. It took me about 3 months to purchase a revolver in NJ.