Moving to NJ, can I bring my hand gun?

Question
I recently purchased a hand gun in FL and will be moving to NJ in the next few months.  Will I have to register it once I arrive in NJ?

Thanks,
Alex

Answer
Alex,

You will indeed need to register your handgun in New Jersey.  Handgun ownership is HIGHLY restrictive in this state.  If you intend to possess your handgun outside of your home or place of business, you will need a New Jersey Concealed Carry Permit.  If you want to get one of these, they are actually issued by the Superior Court in NJ.

You will need to have a separate permit to carry your firearm in your vehicle.  These are generally referred to as 'firearms identification cards'.  There are some very specific exceptions to this requirement.  You will need to make sure that your firearm  is unloaded and cased and be able to convince the authorities that you are traveling to a gun show, directly to a hunt, directly to a shooting range or that you are driving to a facility to repair your gun.  DO NOT have a gun in your vehicle if you cannot reasonably prove one of the above exceptions.

Open and Concealed Carry in NJ without a license are both VERY ILLEGAL.  That said, it is nearly impossible to obtain a permit.  You need to be able to demonstrate a compelling need or have some kind of significant political connection.

Sorry to be the bearer of such bad news...Florida is a much more firearms liberal state than NJ.  I have a former instructor who was a police officer in NJ for over 20 years.  When he retired, he moved to Florida.  His comment to me was..."Regarding firearms, being a Law Enforcement officer in NJ is fine but I would never want to be a private citizen here.  The laws relating to firearms are just too restrictive".  Incidentally, he moved to Florida after his retirement.

Hope this helps you out and best of luck to you!

Doug