Traveling with a firearm

[Greg528iT]

POSSESSION
It is unlawful to knowingly possess any handgun, including any antique handgun, without first having obtained a Permit to Carry, and it is unlawful to knowingly possess any rifle or shotgun without having first obtained a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card (FID), however, no Permit to Carry or FID is required:
1. To keep or carry any firearm about a person’s place of business, residence, premises, or other land owned or possessed by him; a place of business shall be deemed a fixed location.
2. To carry any firearm unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile

From the NRA pdf

In reading this, it seems you are allowed to transport a firearm in NJ if it's locked away. Most of the posts responding to this, say.. you can't transport firearms thru NJ.

Quote:
Since you are staying in New Jersey over night at your wife's parents house, and your possession of the handgun is illegal in New Jersey, you are out of luck for transporting your handgun there, because it is a destination for the purpose of a visit there.

Unfortunately, this is all that can be said on the matter. You won't be able to legally do what you're planning. If you can rearrange your trip to stop first with whomever you are visiting in any of the other states and deposit the handgun with them, you would be fine.

The NRA synopsis reads as if you CAN transport.

 

[Sam1911]

Most of the posts responding to this, say.. you can't transport firearms thru NJ.

That is in error, per the FOPA '86. Federal law gives you an affirmative defense against state possession laws as long as you are travelling in accordance with the FOPA guidelines -- one of which is driving straight through with no significant stops. The OP stopping to visit with relatives would nullify any FOPA protections.

That's covered on NJSP's web site, too: http://www.njsp.org/about/fire_trans.html

For other, general firearms laws: http://www.njsp.org/about/fire_ag2.html

 

[icanthitabarn]

Quote..'s Stop in New Jersey and stay the night at my wife's parents house. and furthermore .... Looks like I will be avoiding NJ entirely.

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    And then the fight began​

 

[Greg528iT]

OK this is what is confusing to me. And AGAIN I realize this is a synopsis, but from what I read. It's legal to posses a firearm without a FID or PTC in New Jersey per statement 1. and it's permissible to transport with reasonable deviations.

Sorry to be a pain.. but what I read is not the same as what's said here. Should there be a 2011 update to the NRA page?

POSSESSION
It is unlawful to knowingly possess any handgun, including any antique handgun, without first having obtained a Permit to Carry, and it is unlawful to knowingly possess any rifle or shotgun without having first obtained a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card (FID), however, no Permit to Carry or FID is required:
1. To keep or carry any firearm about a person’s place of business, residence, premises, or other land owned or possessed by him; a place of business shall be deemed a fixed location.
2. To carry any firearm unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported and the course of travel shall include only such deviations as are reasonably necessary under the circumstances from any place of purchase to his residence or place of business, between his dwelling and his place of business, from one place of business or
residence and another when moving, or between his dwelling or place of business and place where such firearms are repaired, for the purpose of repair.

From what I am reading on the NRA page, if I was a resident of NJ, I would be allowed to possess a firearm on my property. Transport the firearm to a range, gun smith, shop, etc. I am unsure why it woul dnot allow a non resident to possess and transport in a similar fashion.

 

[NavyLCDR]

You have to look at this part of the law:

from any place of purchase to his residence or place of business, between his dwelling and his place of business, from one place of business or residence and another when moving, or between his dwelling or place of business and place where such firearms are repaired, for the purpose of repair.

Visiting a relative in New Jersey does not fit into ANY of the excepted places. Visiting a relative is not a reasonable deviation - it is a destination with a purpose - and neither the destination nor the purpose is exempted in New Jersey law.

 

[dec41971]

NJ is generally a PITA. If found with a fire arm regardless of conditions, and you are not LEO, you pretty much can expect to detained for along period at a minimum. Worse, you will get arrested until it gets sorted out, and they will be looking for anything they can stick on you. Absolutely zero tolerance unless you have a NJ CCW which is practically not going to happen.

IMO not worth the risk even if you think you are in compliance.