New Jersey Concealed Carry? It can happen...

This isn’t the most supportive or empowering kind of thing that a NJ Gun Owner could read…

My, how things have changed.

“A little back story: I’ve held a NR FL CWFL (non-resident Florida Concealed Weapons and Firearm License) since 2006 and a NR UT CFP (non-resident Utah Concealed Firearm Permit) since 2013, neither of which was honored in NJ, because NJ reciprocates with no other state. I held two concealed licenses, but what did I really know about defensive shooting? I thought I knew enough when I started the NR FL CWFL process back in 2005. I carried legally in the few states that I traveled to that honored that license. At that point, I had been a ‘target shooter’ for about 20+ years. But, just carrying a handgun legally didn’t mean that I had the mindset to carry one safely despite knowing basic firearm safety. I needed to understand the fundamentals of being a defensive shooter, so in 2014 I decided to step outside of my ‘target shooter’ box and take a defensive shooting class. This was my opportunity to obtain that knowledge that I knew I needed to be a more responsible gun owner and licensed concealed carry holder. I was the only women in a class of law enforcement-type men and I didn’t care. And I was only one of two civilians. But, I did not want to be treated any differently because I was a woman or a civilian, so mentally I was all in because I felt confident in my knowledge and gun handling skills. Or so I thought. It was a 2-day, 1000-round course. I learned how to draw from a holster. Being from NJ, it was like a foreign object. I mean, who uses holsters in NJ other than Law Enforcement? Hmmm. We do have cowboys in South Jersey. But I was neither a cop nor a cowboy. Over those 2 days, I learned that defensive gun handling was different than target shooting gun handling. I learned that my intuition is a great asset in defensive shooting, but I also learned that I needed to work harder on my reaction time when a threat was recognized. It was the hardest two days of my life, both physically and mentally but it was also the best, most rewarding two days. I received my certificate of completion and more importantly the satisfaction of knowing that I was a more confident defensive shooter. I continued to attend a few more defensive shooting sessions and I gained even more knowledge and confidence each time. Armed with an “I can do anything now” attitude I continued to step outside of more boxes and went on become a certified Glock Armorer, Range Safety Officer, and I am currently working on becoming an Instructor.

I finally decided that I had enough skills and knowledge of firearms, more confidence in myself than ever, and what I felt was my “justifiable need” to apply for a NJ Permit to Carry a Handgun. I downloaded the necessary forms from the NJSP website and started to complete the paperwork in late September of 2016. I slowly gathered my 3 references signature’s and had it notarized. I compiled my letter of need, specific in content, as to why I believed I had a need to carry a firearm in the State of New Jersey. I then purchased a cashier’s check in the amount of $50 to cover my application fee. I took my time and made sure I met all of the requirements that NJ’s law demanded.

Sometime in mid-November, I went to my local police department to finally turn in my paperwork. Within a week, I received a letter from my police department that included my fingerprint form and instructions. The letter also stated that I was to return a completed mental health waiver, along with a copy of my driver’s license. My NJ Firearms Purchaser Identification Card (FID card) was issued in 2001. At that time, fingerprints were rolled in ink; therefore I was required to schedule an appointment to have my fingerprints rolled digitally for the state’s files. The additional fee for that was $52.70 and that was paid electronically upon scheduling my appointment online. NOTE: I wouldn’t have had to pay that additional fee if my FID was issued more recently. My fingerprint appointment was scheduled at the end of November. Immediately after that appointment, I dropped off the police department’s copy along with the other documents as requested.

Now, it was time to wait. Christmas came and went. The New Year came and went. In the mail on Friday, the 13th of January, 2017, I received a letter from my Police Chief stating that he was denying my application due to lack of justifiable need, however, he was forwarding my application on to the County’s Superior Court for a hearing. Needless to say, I was devastated but it didn’t deter me from continuing the process. I guess some people would have let it end there for fear of a Superior Court denial, but I was determined to see it through. I figured if the Superior Court denied me, I would have to then disclose on all future pistol permit applications that I was denied a permit to carry a handgun, but so what. They can’t not issue me a permit to purchase a handgun based on a denial to carry one. One has nothing to do with the other. It just means that they felt that I didn’t have a justifiable need to carry one, not buy one. It’d be different if I was denied because of other reasons, i.e. criminal, mental, etc.

I received my Superior Court letter at the end of January and I was scheduled to appear mid-February. We all know what happens in mid-February. It’s winter. It snowed. My hearing was rescheduled for mid-March. Mid-March came and I finally appeared before the Superior Court Judge. He spoke at length about my reasons in my letter and requested that we reschedule my hearing, because he needed me to elaborate more specifically about details that I provided in my letter of need. And, despite my defensive shooting training that was outlined in my letter of need, he also asked that I provide a shooting qualification certification prior to my next hearing. The Judge asked the attorney representing NJ if he had any objections to his decision, and fortunately he did not. My final hearing was now rescheduled for mid-April.

I complied with the Judge’s request. I outlined more specifics regarding my need and provided a passing qualification letter and I re-appeared on my April date. Prior to entering the courtroom, the State’s attorney introduced himself in the hallway. I thought he was really nice and in my head I read way too much into his introduction. Could that be a sign that he was impressed with my qualifications? Yeah, right. Should I have felt confident that I was getting approved? Not. I did feel somewhat confident that my Chief was there but it turns out he was scheduled to appear on another case the very same day as my case. How lucky was I? Or, was that unlucky? I started doubting myself, but I remained relaxed and proceeded into the courtroom. The Judge gave a quick briefing of instructions to the courtroom, and then proceeded to hear cases. I was 2nd on his docket. The Judge proceeded to tell me that he reviewed my additional documents and that he was satisfied with what I had provided to him. He continued to speak to me for about 10 more minutes, asking me a series of questions that I confidently answered with, “Yes, your Honor. No, your Honor”. I was professional and respectful. Satisfied with my testimony, the Judge deferred to the State’s attorney for any questions or objections to his decision in which he had none. The Judge then approved my application for a license to carry a handgun in the state of NJ, with restrictions.

What restrictions, you ask? It doesn’t matter. I don’t care. I’ll take it. I got my foot in NJ’s CCW door despite a denial at the local level. It is possible. It is not impossible, as 99% of NJ’s firearms community will tell you. Don’t let fear be the deciding factor in your journey to applying. Don’t continue to perpetuate a NJ myth that has just been busted. What I took away from this entire process is that there isn’t some magical algorithm that everyone uses when applying for a Permit to Carry a Handgun in NJ anyway. If that were the case, more people would apply. It’s like having the answers to a test in advance. I didn’t have any answers. I only followed the requirements as set by NJ State Police. Granted, NJ residents would agree that those requirements need to change, however the laws will not change unless more people stand up and fight for themselves, and apply. I stood up. Won’t you?

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