Moving to NJ

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axeman_g

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All,
After almost 20 yrs, a 8 year marriage, having a 4 yr old and a 4 month old the pressure and feelings of "doing the right thing" for my kids has gotten to me and I feel it is time to leave Georgia. I am considering moving BACK to the Philly area where I was born and raised, to spend time with my family, my wifes family, cousins, friends etc etc. I have a good ooportunity in the Valley Forge area and until I figure out where I want to build a house in Pennsylvania I am going to live in the house where I grew up (which is currently vacant as my mother is remaried and lives at the beach), in Cherry Hill, NJ.

It has been since 1985 when I left NJ,What has changed gun culture wise? Can I bring my limited gun collection to NJ? How about my CCW?

What about hunting and shooting opportunities? I used to know of a range in the Pennsauken area, is it still there? What about trap ranges?

Or should I just shelve the gun hobby for two years until I move to PA and work on my golf game? Help needed ... I dread making this move for selfish reasons, but I know that my kids need to grow up with family, know their grandparents and that italian food is not what they serve at Pasta Garden!!!!
 
As a current NJ resident I must say DON'T COME BACK. Plus the traffic in Cherry Hill sucks.

But here is a summary of NJ gun laws (as bad as they are) :barf:
NJ Laws
 
Have you considered Tibet? I have been to NJ and Tibet. I felt safer in Tibet, although the Chinese military liked to point their AK's at me COM just to see the expression. I felt very slightly more free in NJ, but with much more criminal danger. Move to the PA side and make the relatives come visit you!
 
Have you been to a Doctor ? You can't be a well man. No one in right mind wants to move back north . Do the right thing for your kids ,stay in south just move away from Atlanta and convince your familes to move to you.
 
You can't take your guns to Joisey unless you get a permit from the police. Jersey is one of the gun-unfriendliest places in the USA. If guns are an important part of your life move directly to PA.
 
I escaped about 19 years ago and will not move back. I love the freedom NH has. Been looking for a place further south that is free not sure where we will land but it will not be NJ. Possibly WV?
 
Move to DE. NJ sucks when it comes to gun laws!!!! I live in Carneyspoint, NJ Don't do it men. :banghead:
 
We finally got CCW in MO

We finally got the concealed carry permits in Missouri. No thanks to our outgoing Governer Bob Holden. Boy was that guy a mistake!

You know what though, it just aggrevates the heck out of me to be required to pay so much money and take a course just to "buy" my 2nd ammendment rights. I really like Vermont's gun laws or lack thereof.

Tim
 
Axeman,
I moved from NYC to NJ, so I'm one of few people here who moved to NJ and things got better. Here's what I can tell you:

Forget about CCW.

As for your gun collection, no detachable mags over 15 rounds, no "assault weapons" (some of which are mentioned by name, others get the name from a number of "bad" features). For all practical purposes no hollowpoints. You'll have to apply for an FID to buy ammo and/or more guns. I don't know about bringing your guns with you, I went thru a whole hassle because of the NYC regs when I moved. I've been told you could just bring them in, but not by a lawyer or anyone with authority to tell me so.
 
Since you left the major changes in the law include the NJ Assault Rifle Ban. Information on it can be found at the NJ State Police link.

http://www.njsp.org/about/firearms.html

Quick summary;
1. There is no requirement to register handguns when moving into the state.
2. Pre-ban assault rifles cannot be brought into the state. The banned rifles are listed on the NJSP link.
3. Rifle and pistol magazines exceeding 15 rounds are also banned.
4. A NJ firearms ID card should be obtained ASAP. Apply for one at your local PD. Once you move in, do not move your firearms around until you have a FID card.
5. A CCW is difficult and very costly to obtain. Many people who take responsibility for their own personal safety just ignore the law and carry anyway.
6. There are rifle, shotgun and pistol ranges in South Jersey.

Other comments;
Deer and duck hunting is quite popular. We have some big deer up here, not like those scrawny 'greyhound' deer in Georgia.
Two of the finest golf courses in the world are in NJ - Baltusrol and Pine Valley. There are other excellent courses in NJ.
Yes, we have good Italian food.
Grandkids should know their grandparents. Very important.
 
In general:

Stay the heck out of NJ. Seriously.

I mean, do what you gotta do if you have no other choice, but stay the heck out. Rent a slum in PA if you must.

Forget CCW. It's not going to happen.

The bottom line is that the state of NJ is institutionally hostile to gunowners.

Despite this, the oh-so-few and brave manage to put together a small, vibrant and beleaguered gun community. There's some great sporting clays ranges a little further south, and Hague's down at 295 exit 21 is a great indoor range for general booming.




WT and other posters are correct: You don't need a FID before you move in, nor do you need to (nor should you) register the guns you bring with. Do not bring anything classified as an "assault weapon", as the AW registry is CLOSED. Although not strictly needed so long as you leave your guns locked up at home, you should get a FID asap, expect to wait and wait and wait.

If there are any handguns you want to have, get them before moving in, as once you're here, getting pistol purchase permits is a pain.

Incidentally, you'll be moving into my neck of the woods, I'd be happy to provide assistance and advice along the way. I spent many years working in the VF area, and will be happy to sit down with you and a map, pointing out the character of each area.
 
I echo what Geek and the others said - stay out of NJ.

I say that with a heavy heart, as I'm a refugee from the PRNJ who escaped to Texas, Free America 4 years ago. I grew up in NJ and lived there (aside from 8 school years spent out of state) for 39 years; I miss many friends and family members, the availability of good Jewish, Italian and Chinese food (all of which are impossible to find where I am) along with the familiarity and comfort of the place that I grew up. Nonetheless, you'd have to pay me many millions of dollars to move back there (part of which I would undoubted have to use in "contributions" to various office-holders throughout the state to keep my guns and get a carry license, IF that were even possible). No, I take that back - I won't compromise my freedom by moving back, nor will I pay to be some kind of "super citizen" who only has rights at the sufferance of corrupt politicians. The gun laws are damned near impossible, and Geek is 100% right about there being an institutional bias against guns and gun owners.

You don't need to register your guns when coming in, and I wouldn't even mention those to the police IF you actually move there. Nonetheless, if I were you, I'd have physical proof available in multiple places of your ownership of each and every one of your guns BEFORE you came back to NJ. BUT...

...you have to be very concerned about the "assault weapons" ban there. It is a REAL ban, i.e. you can't own (as in "we'll put your carcass in Rahway Prison" can't own) particular guns on the list or any that are "substantially identical" (which is a VERY vague term that may cost you tens of thousands in legal fees and some time in a county jail to determine the meaning). Neither can you own any magazines for semi-autos that exceed 15 rounds capacity - and if you have one somewhere in a box that you bring from Georgia that you've forgotten about and the cops find out about it, you are looking at PRISON. That's right, prison time for owning a metal or plastic box with a spring inside of it...welcome to the Peoples Republic, where the politicians can do whatever they want and the people live in fear of the law.

Regarding a carry license: Fuhgeddabowdit!

You will need to get a Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) card to purchase any long guns or any ammo. This is good for your lifetime (or until you move elsewhere in NJ, at which point you have to apply for a new one, go through the fingerprinting BS again - for a fee, of course - and wait until the local police chief feels like signing it and letting you know it is ready).

Handguns are another matter: you need to get a permit (for a fee, of course) for EVERY SINGLE ONE THAT YOU WANT TO BUY. You want to buy someone's collection of 15 old whatevers? - Good, now go to the cops and fill out 15 forms and pay the associated permit fee 15 times; be prepared to be hassled about it. Heck, if you even want to get a large caliber handgun, you'll get "the look" and possible wiseacre questions about "why do you NEED that much firepower?"

Oh, and the best part about handguns is that NJ has a law that states that once a "smart" gun is developed, within 3 years you will only be able to buy these weapons (at who knows what price and with the questionable reliability, plus the inability of any member of your household to use it). Oh, the police are exempt from this law - of course, because they're BETTER than you.

In short, DON'T DO IT!!! If you value your freedom, stay out of NJ at all costs. Sell the Cherry Hill house and use the proceeds to buy something in Eastern PA, closer to your family. Heck, it is only a few miles away, and the difference related to gun rights is almost a big as the difference in freedom in Berlin was on different sides of the Wall. Remember, Pennsylvania is "Where America Starts."
 
WT and Geek pretty much summed it up nicely. The only thing I will add is this:

For all practical purposes no hollowpoints.
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is blatantly wrong and it really annoys me cause I see it EVERY time NJ is mentioned.

Hollowpoints ARE legal to buy at the store, ARE legal to possess in your home or on your property, ARE legal to transport and possess at a range. The only thing you cannot do is have hollowpoints in your possession while out and about, which is pointless anyway because there is no way you can get a CCW in NJ.
 
Since I made the original statement, thanks for the clarification.
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No problem....it's a VERY common misconception as the law is written extremely dumb anyway. I have to correct most officers on it as well so don't feel bad. ;)
 
my only response ...

crap!

To all that say dont move there, it has gotten very hard to ignore the family tug. If this does happen I will start the search for a lot and the building of my house in Eastern Pa asap.

In regards to the FOID, does that mean if I want to buy shells for my 12g to go bird hunting I have to show a permit for shells? How about transferring a gun .. traveling to range with gun locked and ammo stored... if I get pulled over do I need to have the FOID?

Looks like I better save some money and buy the 1911, SW317 and a Rem 870 ASAP here in Ga, plus crates of ammo.

Double Crap!
 
In regards to the FOID, does that mean if I want to buy shells for my 12g to go bird hunting I have to show a permit for shells? How about transferring a gun .. traveling to range with gun locked and ammo stored... if I get pulled over do I need to have the FOID?
Click to expand...

No there is no permit needed to buy ammo, but some places where you go won't realize this no matter what you say so it all depends. I haven't noticed too much trouble though. Only thing you need is your driver's license to buy handgun ammo.

As far as transporting a gun that is sort of a grey area. As I read the law you can transport a firearm if it's locked, unloaded and in the trunk of the vehicle. Some NJ firearms lawyers, however, believe that you can't transport a rifle/shotgun without an FID. Either way it's just smarter to get the damn thing.
 
Are You Out Of Your Mind..!!..??

The only question I have for you is.. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND..!!..??" :eek:

FireStar_M40
 
Hmmm .....

Yep M40, I might be out of my mind.

It is very hard to ignore the gravity of the Italian family pull especially when there are grandkids around.

My oldest son has lost one grandpop without really knowing him (my father) ... I dont want my boys to not know the other grandparents. They can learn much from them, their uncles and cousins.

One plus in this, I will be able to spend lots of time at the beach, in my beloved and missed Pine Barrens and with some good bird hunting partners in the area
 
Do what I did. Move to Pike County, PA. It's right nextdoor to NJ. Close enough to still visit family (I actually work in NJ, it's that close), but far enough away to be in free America. PA is quite possibly the most gun-friendly state in the nation. We have the largest number of CCW permit holders and it''s VERY easy to get one. $19 bucks at your sherrif's department and 2 weeks later you have your permit, good for 5 years. You can carry just about everywhere, including airports (except down terminals) and in court house buildings (just not in court rooms, lock boxes are provided for you).

My family is of Italian decent, too. I know exactly where you are coming from. However, DO NOT move to NJ. Trust me.
 
I have the dissenting opinion... if guns aren't the focal point of your life, there are worse places than Jersey.
 
if guns aren't the focal point of your life, there are worse places than Jersey.
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True...it all depends on what your priorities are. If you feel more strongly about your kids having access to their grandparents, and you're reasonably certain that you can keep them safe in NJ, than you do about having a place to shoot on the weekends, or if you'll be able to keep what you shoot...then go back. It sounds to me like it's a decision of compromise and sacrifice...what are you willing to do?
 
I've been to Philly and Cherry Hill a time or two . . . hated traffic, and those screwy "traffic circles." Everything just seemed, well, congested.

Reading the rest of the posts, all I can say is wow . . . being a gun owner and moving back to New Jersey from Georgia sounds a little like being a Jew and moving back to Germany from Sweden in 1939 to be with family . . .

Considering what I've heard about schools, crime, the social climate, taxes & regulations, even aside from the gun issue, "doing the right thing" for kids just wouldn't involve a move to PRNJ.

Why don't you just visit at first, or invite the grandparents to Georgia this winter?
 
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