The problem the NJ prosecutors have with PA isn't NJ people buying guns in PA (as has already been discussed, as an NJ resident, you still need an FID to buy long guns in PA, and you can't buy handguns unless transferred through an NJ FFL) - so there's really no difference in an NJ resident (legally) purchasing firearms in PA or buying them in NJ (though don't tell that to the idiot politician shown in the papers holding up a semi-auto .223, declaring that this kind of "assault weapon", purchased in PA, can't be purchased in NJ... he obviously hasn't visited any NJ gun shops)
The problem, again, through the eyes of the NJ prosecutors/politicians, is that PA makes it too easy for PA residents to purchase firearms, and then in turn sell them illegally to NJ residents (ie. criminals). They want a permitting process in PA similar to what NJ has. Supposedly, if you're a nefarious individual, intent on selling guns illegally, you won't want to take the time/effort to "register" yourself with the state (in the form of an FID card).
Of course, there wouldn't be anything to stop such an individual from obtaining one to begin with, since said individual can obviously pass the PICS check when he buys the guns in the first place, so I'm not sure of their logic there.
And as for handguns, it's my understanding that the PASP maintains a registry of handgun purchases (one of those defacto-registration deals). Soooo.... if that's the case, and a handgun turns up in a crime here in NJ, why can't they simply trace the sale of that back to the original PA purchaser, and go after him?
It's the same non-sensical argument that's being used here in NJ to put forth a one-handgun-a-month law. CLEO's (particularly the Jersey City Chief) claim that too many people are buying many handguns at once, and are then selling them illegally and their officers are encountering them on the streets. Well, since the NJSP has a record of every (legal) handgun transaction that occurs in NJ, how hard is it to track said illegal gun back to the last known legal owner, and take him to task for it?
My God man, that would almost be real police work
- far too difficult. It's much easier to punish everyone equally. Next, instead of enforcing traffic laws, we'll just prohibit everyone from owning vehicles. THAT will cut down on the number of traffic accidents, alright.
