Does anybody know if it is legal in NJ for a non resident to bring a handgun into the state if its stored Locked and Unloaded in vehicle? I'm not talking about traveling through the state where federal rules would apply. I believe NJ law permits a non-resident to bring a pistol into state for target shooting as long as its not carried concealed except while at range. This would generally not be allowed under NY law (there a few exceptions under very limited circumstances, e.g., where out of state resident is attending a sanctioned target event, etc.). Thanks.
Bringing handgun into New Jersey
- Thread starter cgrutt
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RustyShackelford
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Gun laws; travel.....
See www.Handgunlaw.us or www.gunlawguide.com . They can explain the gun/travel laws in all 50 states & US possessions(Guam, American Semoa, US Virgin Islands).
Legal Heat is a gun law app you can apply to your smart phone or tablet.
Check the site(s) often for updates or changes. The carry/gun laws & statues change a lot. A state AG or assembly may get mad & cut a state or new elected officials may add/delete states or cities based on legal issues or politics.
See www.Handgunlaw.us or www.gunlawguide.com . They can explain the gun/travel laws in all 50 states & US possessions(Guam, American Semoa, US Virgin Islands).
Legal Heat is a gun law app you can apply to your smart phone or tablet.
Check the site(s) often for updates or changes. The carry/gun laws & statues change a lot. A state AG or assembly may get mad & cut a state or new elected officials may add/delete states or cities based on legal issues or politics.
115grfmj
Member
There is no practical way to get a carry permit for handguns in this state., and an FID doesn't mean squat with regards to handguns.You are permitted legally to have it in your car unloaded locked in the trunk, only while driving directly from your resisdence (the only place your unconditionally allowed to possesses a handgun) to your range, gunshop, gunsmith etc. Only making such deviations in your path of travel as are reasonably necessary. The problem with that is it's open to interpretation by the arresting officer. You are not allowed to just store your handgun in your car (even locked), and drive wherever you want. If caught you will be arrested, and be forced to enter the NJ legal system. My advice....don't do it!!! It's just simply not worth the trouble
BullSlinger
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After reading of and watching videos of what has happened recently ie Ms Allen, why one would want to drive into NJ with a gun seems totally NUTS! I will never attend any sort of function in that state ever.
Onward Allusion
Member
Heh, do it at your own peril.
Tom488
Member
Yes, it's legal.
2C:39-6f(3)(b) permits a person to transport a firearm directly to or from any target range
2C:39-6g requires that the firearm be unloaded, and in a securely fastened case (or locked in the trunk of the vehicle), and that "in the course of travel shall include only such deviations as are reasonably necessary under the circumstances."
What are reasonably necessary deviations? No idea. I wouldn't leave that interpretation up to a judge or jury, either. Fuel the car, and empty the body, before entering NJ. Go directly to the range. When you leave, go directly to the border.
With that said... a non-resident doing this isn't any different that us NJ residents who go to the range all the time. We're subject to the same laws, too.
2C:39-6f(3)(b) permits a person to transport a firearm directly to or from any target range
2C:39-6g requires that the firearm be unloaded, and in a securely fastened case (or locked in the trunk of the vehicle), and that "in the course of travel shall include only such deviations as are reasonably necessary under the circumstances."
What are reasonably necessary deviations? No idea. I wouldn't leave that interpretation up to a judge or jury, either. Fuel the car, and empty the body, before entering NJ. Go directly to the range. When you leave, go directly to the border.
With that said... a non-resident doing this isn't any different that us NJ residents who go to the range all the time. We're subject to the same laws, too.
Gary Slider
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I remember reading an article (A year or two ago) that the State Police in NJ were telling NJ residents that if they took their firearm into PA to a shooting range and stopped to eat on the way home (Stopping in PA) they were out of compliance with NJ Law and could be charged. They had violated the reasonably necessary deviations on their trip. I haven't heard anymore about that but that is the mentality of some. Common Sense is dead in NJ when it comes to firearms.
Thanks guys. I am a NYS resident and have a NYS CCW permit. I live pretty close to NJ border. I was just wondering if while legally carrying my pistol in NY would it be legal for me to unload it, lock it and travel into NJ if I had to, not necessarily for target practice. It seems that this would not be legal (except if I was actually going to and from range). I also have PA non-resident carry and wanted to know if travelling from NY to PA in this manner would be legal under NJ law and it seems it would be permitted (under Federal law) as long as my travels didn't have any "unnecessary" stops in NJ (say to spend some of my money on a local establishment to have a bite to eat lol). On the whole I think I'll just avoid the state as much as possible.
BSA1
member
My son is getting married next June somewhere in Maryland or Virginia. They also live close to Washington, D.C. As much as I hate the idea of driving halfway across the country without a firearm for self-defense their is no way I am going to risk the consequences of getting caught.
New York and New Jersey are on my states not to go to while we are there.
New York and New Jersey are on my states not to go to while we are there.
Quiet
Member
cgrutt said:
Keep in mind that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals have ruled that the Federal law (18 USC 926A) is an affirmative defense to be used at trial; after you are arrested, jailed, and had your property confiscated.
herrwalther
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Non resident firearm possession is too much a grey area in NJ, as in there are no laws for/against it. As such it would be best just to leave the firearm at home. Resident FID holders in NJ get treated like criminals anyway, a non resident would probably get it worse.
115grfmj
Member
Under that circumstance....it would'nt matter. FOPA would cover you, since you were transporting from a place that its legal to possess, to another place it's legal for you to possess. Think of all the NJ residents that have vacation places in PA, and bring their guns. What you do in PA is under the jurisdiction of the state of PA. Not to mention that but it'd be nearly impossible to enforce, as the NJSP (or anyother local nj PD), can't possible know what you were doing in PA, and would actually have to catch you in the act of "Eating" in order to prove it. The thresold for Prob Cause wouldn't be met enough for a bank search.
Red Wind
Member
It is hard to believe the number of people here who are willing to travel all the way across the country unprotected, because of the spectre of Maryland, New York,and New Jersey! 
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As I've mentioned before ,since I go to NJ & NY and cross MD almost every year, having dozens of relatives there:
1. Before crossing the evil border, leave your firearm at a LGS for repair or cleaning, They do not have to put it in their bound book under the 24 hour rule. Pick it up on the way back. I have done this at least 6 times.
2.Bus, train or private lockers. You retain the key.
3.A friendly relative or local THR member near the insidious border to hold on to "Roscoe" til your return.
4. Bury it carefully in the woods. Mark location carefully with GPS.
5.Or go right in, cased in the trunk, do everything rationally and take a small, tiny chance.
I've been doing this since the 1980's with no problems. Of course ,the wheel can turn. Life is short. Paranoia is long.
Do your own thing . Stay safe.
.
As I've mentioned before ,since I go to NJ & NY and cross MD almost every year, having dozens of relatives there:
1. Before crossing the evil border, leave your firearm at a LGS for repair or cleaning, They do not have to put it in their bound book under the 24 hour rule. Pick it up on the way back. I have done this at least 6 times.
2.Bus, train or private lockers. You retain the key.
3.A friendly relative or local THR member near the insidious border to hold on to "Roscoe" til your return.
4. Bury it carefully in the woods. Mark location carefully with GPS.
5.Or go right in, cased in the trunk, do everything rationally and take a small, tiny chance.
I've been doing this since the 1980's with no problems. Of course ,the wheel can turn. Life is short. Paranoia is long.
Do your own thing . Stay safe.
Last edited:
Red Wind
Member
See point #5 in post #14.
Again: Do your own thing . Stay safe.xXxplosive
Member
Unless the range in Pa. requires you to sign in and sign out as ours does....then it might be traceable.....just sayin'.
Mousegun
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N.J. is in a world of its own. Any gun bust is a good bust in N.J. and it would cost you a lung to get out of it if you don't have political correctness and the media on your side.
I asked my daughter's neighbor who was a police Lieutenant in a town that has seen many gun violations if I could bring my air pistol to her house when I visited.
He said your final destination is her house in this state where you are not allowed to have an air pistol (a firearm in the eyes of N.J.) as a non resident so it is illegal for you to do so.
If I was going to a competition and had paperwork to that effect, I could go to the competition legally. I didn't ask him, "what if it is a tow day competition" so I don't know the answer to that or how it would be handled. My guess is the gun would have to be kept at the range where the competiton was held.
When I lived there I was always told anyone traveling through has to lock up and take the shortest route through the state. I even had to take the shortest route to my range or I could have been in trouble.
Even if he is wrong, I would not want to face the music trying to explain to an arrest crazed officer why I had possession of an air pistol with a Tennessee plate on my car.
I asked my daughter's neighbor who was a police Lieutenant in a town that has seen many gun violations if I could bring my air pistol to her house when I visited.
He said your final destination is her house in this state where you are not allowed to have an air pistol (a firearm in the eyes of N.J.) as a non resident so it is illegal for you to do so.
If I was going to a competition and had paperwork to that effect, I could go to the competition legally. I didn't ask him, "what if it is a tow day competition" so I don't know the answer to that or how it would be handled. My guess is the gun would have to be kept at the range where the competiton was held.
When I lived there I was always told anyone traveling through has to lock up and take the shortest route through the state. I even had to take the shortest route to my range or I could have been in trouble.
Even if he is wrong, I would not want to face the music trying to explain to an arrest crazed officer why I had possession of an air pistol with a Tennessee plate on my car.
NoVA Shooter
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See point #5 in post #14.
Red Wing gave several other legitimate ways to travel with your gun when going to anti-gun states but if doing your own thing involves a felony, IMO, you need to re-think you're priorities. This is very bad advice for several reasons:
1. As responsible gun owners, let's not advocate committing a felony gun violation.
2. While the chance may be very small that you will get caught, the consequences aren't just a slap on the wrist. You stand a very good chance of jail time and the loss of you're RKBA.
3. Look at NJ's track record for prosecuting gun related felonies. If it wasn't for the Ray Rice fiasco, NJ probably would have sent a single working mother of two to jail for 3 years for a simple lapse in judgement.
It sucks not being able to travel freely with our guns, but unless you're willing to be a constitutional test case, if you get caught willingly breaking the law, it does a disservice to us all.
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