NJ Gun Law Question

dennis in se pa · dennis in se pa's Garage

Someone I know has an employee who got stopped in NJ for a traffic violation. This person resides in PA. As the story goes somehow the police searched the car, found a loaded handgun, which was registered to the driver, in the trunk. The passenger was found to have prescription drugs on him, but did not have a prescription for them. I am being told the driver is facing 8-12 months in a NJ jail. The driver has a permit to carry in PA. This scares me because I cross state lines with a pistol on occasion. Does this story ring true, or must there be another reason for the jail time, and I am not getting the whole story?

targa911S · 08-10-2012, 03:56 AM

Well having a PA permit only lets you carry in PA and states that have reciprocity with PA. NJ does not honor a PA CCWP. NJ has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Here is a link to the states gun law web site. I think you aren't getting the whole story though.
http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/newjersey.pdf

VINMAN · 08-10-2012, 04:01 AM

Here in NJ , if youre are transporting a firearm it must be carried in a locked case. separate from the ammunition.

dennis in se pa · dennis in se pa's Garage

Well that's clear enough. Thanks to both of you.
But if you have a permit to carry in NJ it would have been OK, right? Sorry if that seems like a stupid question, but I ask them sometimes. How difficult is it to get a permit in NJ?

targa911S · 08-10-2012, 04:14 AM

vinny would know best but based on what I see,,,,good luck with that.

steveo12345 · 08-10-2012, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

Well that's clear enough. Thanks to both of you.
But if you have a permit to carry in NJ it would have been OK, right? Sorry if that seems like a stupid question, but I ask them sometimes. How difficult is it to get a permit in NJ?

From what I hear it is next to impossible to get a permit in NJ.

VINMAN · 08-10-2012, 04:22 AM

Getting a carry permit in Jersey?? as we say here, Fugetaboutit!

dennis in se pa · dennis in se pa's Garage

"Getting a carry permit in Jersey?? as we say here, Fugetaboutit!"

WOW!! Where is the NRA when you need them?

BTW Vinny, a friend recently got an ACD/Border Collie mixed. Looks to be mostly ACD. Great dog!

And why is PPOT so great?

Immediate quality answers for just about any question.

Asked the same thing on a gun forum this morning. Not 1 response yet. Thanks guys.

VINMAN · 08-10-2012, 04:31 AM

Dennis my step-daughter is a investigator with the county medical examiner. she goes into some of the the worst possible areas and crime scenes. She was denied a permit.

Good luck to your friend with his new pup. Aint no better dog.!

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Here in NJ , if youre are transporting a firearm it must be carried in a locked case. separate from the ammunition.

I'm thinking that applies to intrastate transporting (for NJ residents).
My understanding is if the firearm is legal in the local a person starts his trip and also legal where he is headed, that the states in between can't enforce their more restrictive laws.
Of course the people in the OP may have other issues going on that caused the seizure, but the simple transporting shouldn't have been one of them (depending on where they were going).
Jiom

VINMAN · 08-10-2012, 05:25 AM

heres a recent case that happened here.

Family: New Jersey man serving 7 years for guns he owned legally - Philly.com

Gun owner Brian Aitken is released from prison after Gov. Christie commutes sentence | NJ.com

Brian Aitken - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

dennis in se pa · dennis in se pa's Garage

The thing is....
How many people, such as I, are unaware of this situation?
Talk about the punishment being worse than the offense.
Guess I will stay away from the Jersey beaches.

VINMAN · 08-10-2012, 05:41 AM

Hey , youre welcome to our beaches any time! Just remember to bring money ( you have to pay to get on...)

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

All the more reason to never ever let a cop search your car.

Buckterrier · 08-11-2012, 08:34 AM

Hey Vinnie, long time no hear, Hope the hounds are doing well. Maybe you can answer this for me. If I wanted to transport my AR & or a handgun, locked of course in a gun case, with me to shoot in Pa. when I go on business, is it legal to do so traveling through NJ?
Actually I wouldn't be taking the AR as I've made it into an SBR and know that is a nono without proper Federal paperwork. But I would like to take a long range rifle eventually.

matthew-s · matthew-s's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

Hey Vinnie, long time no hear, Hope the hounds are doing well. Maybe you can answer this for me. If I wanted to transport my AR & or a handgun, locked of course in a gun case, with me to shoot in Pa. when I go on business, is it legal to do so traveling through NJ?
Actually I wouldn't be taking the AR as I've made it into an SBR and know that is a nono without proper Federal paperwork. But I would like to take a long range rifle eventually.

I believe so long as you are driving through, you own it legally, and its transported as you describe, you *should* be fine.

NJ is strict about it. If it is in your car, you are supposed to be going to/from a property you own, a gunsmith, or a range/hunting area.

Found this: http://www.njsp.org/about/fire_trans.html

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthew-s

I believe so long as you are driving through, you own it legally, and its transported as you describe, you *should* be fine.

NJ is strict about it. If it is in your car, you are supposed to be going to/from a property you own, a gunsmith, or a range/hunting area.

Found this: New Jersey State Police - Transporting a Firearm Into / Through the State of New Jersey

The Peaceable Journey Law is federal, though NJ routinely ignores it. Beware. That's why you don't let a cop search your car ever.

Buckterrier · 08-11-2012, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthew-s

I believe so long as you are driving through, you own it legally, and its transported as you describe, you *should* be fine.

NJ is strict about it. If it is in your car, you are supposed to be going to/from a property you own, a gunsmith, or a range/hunting area.

Found this: New Jersey State Police - Transporting a Firearm Into / Through the State of New Jersey

Thanks Matthew. I'm going to print out the link page and keep with me.

I hear ya Rick. I'm to cute to go to jail!!

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

My mom used to work for the anti-gun county prosecutor when I was growing up in NJ and told me a few stories. One was a guy on his way from his winter home in FL back to NH, who stopped to spend a night in a hotel in our county. He left his SIG in the nightstand drawer in the hotel. He remembered it before he drove off, but by then the maid had found it and called the police. The cops confiscated it, didn't charge him, just said they're keeping the gun. And you've probably heard the story about the guy who was sentenced to years in jail for legally transporting his guns from one residence to his new one. Christy commuted the sentence, but that's not a pardon and it was a crime to arrest and charge him in the first place. Don't get caught in NJ with a gun, legal or otherwise. They don't care about the law and they haven't yet arrested someone rich enough to fight them and be a test case.

Buckterrier · 08-11-2012, 10:38 AM

Yeah I read Vinnie's links about the guy.
Earlier this week here in Ct. a guy at a theater, legally carrying a pistol was arrested. Someone saw the gun and called the police or as the article states, "tipped the police off".
Now if they guy was being a toad about it shame on him.

Another man arrested for bringing gun to movie theater