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How to Register a Gun
The New Jersey Police Firearms Investigation Unit maintains a log of all handgun purchases made within state boundaries by mandating that all purchases require a permit. This record constitutes a form of registration for any handgun purchased in New Jersey. Should a handgun be brought in from an individual relocating from out-of-state or be transferred by way of inheritance, it will not need to be included in the archive.
A long gun or handgun will initially require one to apply for a purchaser identification card. This card will allow a resident to buy a long gun from an authorized dealer or private party. To apply for the New Jersey Initial Firearms Purchaser Identification Card, you can utilize the state’s website or gather the following materials to bring in hand to your local police department location:
- A fully filled-out New Jersey Application for Firearms Purchaser Identification Card and-or Handgun Purchase Permit (Form STS-33).
- A recorded Universal Fingerprint (Form 212A) (available on the state’s website or on-site at your local police station).
- A New Jersey Consent for Mental Health Records Search (Form SP-66) completed and endorsed by a doctor or mental health institution official.
- Payment for applicable fees.
After submitting your application form, it can take 1-6 months to receive notification of the status of your permit based on your local department’s application backlog. This also accounts for the time it takes to undergo a background investigation for the applicant and receive the completed questionnaires from your designated references.
Once you have received your firearms purchaser identification card, you can purchase one or multiple long guns. To purchase a handgun, you must take the next step of the process, which involves filling out the same New Jersey Application for Firearms Purchaser Identification Card and-or Handgun Purchase Permit (Form STS-33), but this time select the checkbox listed as “Application to Purchase Handgun”. Make sure to indicate the number of permits you wish to receive, as this permit is only useful for purchasing the listed quantity and a total of 90 days before expiration. Remember that regardless of the amount selected, you can only purchase one handgun per 30-day period. All firearms purchasers must also undergo a secondary background check (NJ NICS) at the point of purchase through a federally licensed gun dealer, even when buying from a private party.
How to Obtain a Permit to Carry
Open weapon carry is not permitted except for a long gun in an area presumed legal for hunting purposes. To carry a concealed weapon, a New Jersey Permit to carry a handgun must be secured before use. New Jersey issues this type of permit on a “may issue” basis. Obtaining this permit is not easily accessible, and the state generally issues to special cases or individuals who are required to carry a weapon to work as a security officer or an armed guard. To apply, you can submit these filings at your local Police department facility:
- Three original notarized New Jersey Applications for Permit to Carry a Handgun (Form SP-642) (Must complete three for submission).
- A finalized New Jersey Consent for Mental Health Records Search (Form SP-66).
- Certification of completion of an approved firearms training course.
- A written letter with a logical explanation of why the permit to carry is needed, signed and dated by the applicant.
- Four passport-style color photos.
- Two fingerprint identification cards.
- Payment via money order, made out to “State of New Jersey — Treasurer”.
Please allow 30-60 days for the status of your permit. Within this period, notification of your permit’s status will be mailed to the address you provided to your residence.
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