New Jersey to PA

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psycotic12

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Hi everyone,

Currently I'm living in NJ. I'm going to be moving to my gf's house in PA.

I have a firearm's ID card here in NJ. How do I move to PA and get a carrying license in PA?

Do I have to get a whole new gun permit there, or can I just go apply for a carrying permit.

Also, can I keep my license and everything saying NJ and just have something signed saying I live in PA?? Or do I have to get a whole new license and everything?

Thanks!
 
Welcome to PA! (I live in the Camden area of NJ, but PA's my 2nd home)
Check out: http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/PASL.pdf

No license or purchase permits necessary! However, you will need proof of residence in PA for handguns, otherwise you will be treated like a NJ resident both in the eyes of the law and in many gunshops. Long guns you can typically purchase without restriction... although the savvy dealers will hesitate to sell you guns banned in NJ understanding that there's a great possibility you will bring them across state lines and incur upon them liability.

Proof of residence actually is very subjective legally, but if you want to be safe get some sort of authoritative PA ID (for example, a driver's license, which is a lot less painless than getting a gun license/permit in NJ).

Carrying is another story I'll let others cover.
 
Welcome to Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania's laws are definitely more sensible than Jersey, but I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the applicable laws here.

Open carry is legal in the Commonwealth except within the city of Philadelphia. You will need a Pa. "License to Carry Firearms" though, if you wish to carry a concealed handgun. The LTCF will also permit you to carry within Philly.

I strongly suggest that you take a look at the Pennsylvania Firearms Owners Association website -- it is an excellent source of information concerning firearms laws, and has a good group of people:

http://www.pafoa.org
 
I didn't want to change my license over if I didn't have to, so I were to get just an ID, would that be good enough???
 
In theory, yes, but then you still need to prove your residence, which may take up to a year or more depending on how long it takes you to get at least TWO of the following:

PA state tax records
PA lease agreements
PA mortgage documents
PA W-2 forms
(or, catch-22, a current PA weapons permit)

Since it's tax season now, two of those you won't be able to get for another year and the other two are likely mutually exclusive to most people (either rent or own)... and in your case it's neither since it's your GF's home (unless she leases it to you just for show).

Basically, you need concrete documentation that you're in PA to stay. These forms are backwards looking to prove you've been here and intend to stay... but for new residents, a license is forward looking (showing you're going through the hassle of changing to stay). Otherwise anyone could fake residency of any state.
 
Yeah, I didn't think of it this way. The house she lives in, her parents actually own. Would it be acceptable it I had a letter from them, stating I live there, and a copy of their deed?
 
Not sure about PA, but when I moved to FL from NYC...
I got here (FL) on Sunday. On Tuesday I got my FL DL, by simply showing up at the DMV, handing in my NY DL, and supplying an address. Now, I didn't even live under that address, but I almost had the lease in had, so I used it. Nobody checked.
An hour and a half later I walked in to a gun store, and bought my first handgun :D

So, they day you move, go to DMV, get your PA DL. Then get the CWP... wich I hear takes about 30 minutes :what:
 
Correct. If you plan to stay in PA for good, burn it on the PA / NJ border and never look back!!!
Welcome to the free world!!!
 
No, your name has to be on the document [to count as proof of residence for a CCW]. I forgot, another thing you can use is a utility bill for a fixture (can't be a cell phone, for example). If her parents are willing, they can set up a "for show" leasing agreement with you ($1 rent, for example) as well as make you pay for a cheap utility (say the phone or cable bill) for a month or two. Then you'd have all the documentation you need.

This isn't circumventing the law because it does what they want it to do, prove that you've got connections and roots in the community who are willing to go through the hassle to prove you're going to stay. If they aren't willing to help you out at all, then get a job and start hanging onto any kind of documentation you have to establish your residency.

I think you can bring something like 6 lesser items to establish the absence of 2 major ones (school bills, work checks, banking statements, etc).

Alternatively, you can apply for a non-resident CCW, but that requires you have a CCW in your home state (which I have in NJ, but I know I'm a rare exception). But I mention it in case you have the ability you prove your residence elsewhere.

But like I mentioned before, if all you want to do is buy a gun, then you can do that in PA with your NJ drivers license... they just might not sell you a handgun or a NJ banned gun (though they might).
 
Ok, doesn't sound too hard...

I already own a gun, so I don't think it'll be hard. I never went to get a carrying permit in NJ because I doubt I'll get one. The only thing that i have to base it on is that I used to be in the military, and I doubt that won't get me issued one.

So move to PA... Prove I live there, put my name on the cable.. And go to the sheriff's dept for the application?? I'll give it a shot!.

Thanks for your help everyone!
 
To get a photo ID issued from a state, you have to give up all other photo id's issued by any other state. For instance, if you wanted a photo ID for PA, but not a driver's license for PA, you would still have to give up any photo ID card or driver's license from NJ.

Concealed Carry Permits, even though they may have your photo on them and may be issued by the state, would not be considered photo ID in this regard, because many states issue permits to non-residents.

Also, reciprocity ends when you actually move to a state (in some states). Let's say you have a NJ permit and PA recognizes that permit with reciprocity. (I don't know if they actually do or not). You travel to/through PA, your NJ permit would be good. But if you move to PA, your NJ permit may no longer be valid in PA because you are now an actual resident of PA. You can still keep your NJ permit, but some states will require residents to obtain a permit from their home state and that would be considered the only valid permit for residents.
 
If you get a PADL you will need to have the address on your NJFID changed to match or it will be invalid in NJ.
 
It would be a lot easier if you just got a PA Driver's license. Go to the county sheriff where you are living in PA and submit the docs and picture. Its very easy and you will be surprised how different the gun laws are in PA the Joisey.
 
Yeah I keep hearing how NJ is so strict with everything to do with guns and PA is so open to it.

So do I need anything to change my license over, or just my NJ license?? Then when I change it, I go to the sheriff's department, with just a random picture of me?? I should keep my NJ permit, right?
 
To get a photo ID issued from a state, you have to give up all other photo id's issued by any other state. For instance, if you wanted a photo ID for PA, but not a driver's license for PA, you would still have to give up any photo ID card or driver's license from NJ.
Click to expand...

Not entirely true.... you can maintain dual residency. You can only have one drivers license, but if you own or rent property in another state, you can get a State ID card from there as well.....

I know, because I had to do this when going to school in PA when I lived in CA.... could buy guns in PA, but when I moved to CA I had to make sure they followed California's laws, and had to ship them through an FFL.
 
Welcome to Pennsylvania, a free state.

For starters, unlike NJ you don't need any sort of license to own or possess firearms. You do not need to "register" any of your NJ guns that you bring with you, and people would think you strange if you tried.

Be advised that your NJ FID will no longer be valid, as it won't match your current address, but the thing is, you no longer need it.

WRT to documents and so on, I advise you to leave NJ behind, its a state best to be done with.

Trade in your NJ DL, and be done with it.
 
Wow you are moving to America you are so lucky! I am still stuck here in the people's republic....:fire:
 
It is easy to get a PA CCW. I used to live in PA and I moved from NJ. I got my CCW in a little over a month after getting my PA driver license. I now live in Fl and I have a CCW here and a PA non resident CCW. FL also will give you a non resident CCW FYI.
 
I didn't want to change my license over if I didn't have to, so I were to get just an ID, would that be good enough???

Not sure of PA but just about every state I know of has a statute saying you need to get their driver's license after a certain period of time (30,60, 90 days). Establish residence and don't get a PA DL and you may be finding yourself paying a fine.

As far as your NJ FID card I'd just keep it in case you move back to NJ and just change your address if you do. If you use it to buy any long gun in PA you would be providing a false address on the 4473 and that would get you in trobule. If you keep it and don't use it for anything there shouldn't be any problem with that.
 
To the OP: If you don't want to change your DL, you can get an non-redident concealed carry permit from PA. $19 all in. Go for it.

1 page of paperwork and potentially an interview depending on the department you're applying at.

Reid
 
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