Crazy responses by local NJ PD on FOID applicants

**Bang** · March 4th, 2021, 11:20 PM

A guy I have known for many years is married to our niece. He and our niece both filled out the NJSP form and took it to their local department. It issued her a FOID. They have stalled his for some undisclosed reason, other than to say "we are busy".

Do these cards expire, or have a limited period of use? Is a card per gun a requirement? It's beginning to look like she better get her gun asap. With her gun in the home, is he precluded from using it in dire need without a FOID?

Trying to find the answers to this PRNJ crap is not easy.

**W2MC** · March 5th, 2021, 12:44 AM

New Jersey is complicated.

First, this process is controlled by the local Police Depts at each Town/Municipality; if their town does not have a local PD, they will need to go to their local State Police barracks. There are common State-mandated forms and such (and the local PD CANNOT add to them), but each town has their own internal processes - some, mostly major cities and the State Police, are notably slow in their internal processing; the NJ statute controlling this process states "30 days" - this has already been adjudicated as "30 days after the issuing PD has all the information". The NJ NRA reps; the ANJRPC, periodically have their lawyers kick the slow PDs to move them along.

There is a Firearm ID Card - this card is good for purchasing long guns (rifles/shotguns) and handgun ammo. The Firearm ID Card does not expire; but you have to re-apply if you move; even if it's across the street.

There is also a SEPARATE Pistol Purchase Permit. This permit is good to purchase ONE PISTOL, is only good for 3 months (tho the chief of police *can* (he doesn't have to) extend it for another 3 months, and applying for this exactly the SAME process as getting a Firearm ID Card (references, record checks, etc - everything except re-fingerprinting). What this means is (A) if you're already applying for a Firearms ID Card, just go-ahead and apply for some (usually 3) Pistol Purchase Permits, and (B) even if you only want to purchase one pistol, apply for three Pistol Purchase Permits anyway. The permit used to be a paper permit, but is now an on-line process. Remember that NJ is a 'one pistol a month' state. Wait the full month; the State Police DO check!

Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V2ah4CGzuY - this video does a decent job of describing the process.

Also notable; once you have all of the above done, New Jersey's version of PICS (NICS) is ALWAYS backed-up; usually 2-7 days. Additionally, if your relative gets denied somewhere along the way, he will NEED to appeal PRONTO! Denial is not common, but it does happen, and something to be concerned with, if the local PD approved your niece but is dragging their feet on her husband. There is a timeframe limitation to appeal the denial, and the denial WILL follow you. If denied; he will NEED a lawyer! There are several around.

An older commentary from Scott Bach (from ANJRPC, the local NJ NRA reps), is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yj1b8c7FAE
Scott's commentary does identify the status of owning firearms in NJ; illegal EXCEPT for specific exemptions.

ALSO - the NJ Firearm ID Card is NOT a carry license! NJ carry licenses are like unicorns...you'll never actually see one.

**Bang** · March 5th, 2021, 02:05 AM

He hasn't received a denial. I guess a little more time is needed. I'll forward this to him and he can see if his chronology fits. THANK YOU so much for your comprehensive post.

**MikeStull** · March 5th, 2021, 07:17 AM

W2MC, thanks for the detailed response. I knew PRNJ was messed up, but this well beyond messed up. Constitutional law recognizes as a principle of liberty that *everything which is not forbidden is allowed.* It seems PRNJ subscribes to totalitarianism: everything is forbidden unless government gives permission. There is a plus side: no impulse pistol purchases.

**jthrelf** · March 5th, 2021, 08:17 AM

When your family members filled out their stuff hopefully they purchased two pistol purchase permits along with their FOID. Those DO expire but apparently the expiration on newly issued permits has been extended (maybe to 6 months?) due to the plandemic.

My suggestion would be to bug, hassle, and constantly ask about the status of their documents. Squeaky wheel gets the grease in NJ for these things in my indirect (friends and family) experience.

Nothing is wrong - NJ is just blowing up the prescribed timelines and of course they don't care. To avoid anymore delays tell them to purchase their long guns in PA at a dealer that knows the NJ process like Tanner's.

Further, I don't see why him not having an FOID is a problem with a gun in the home. I wouldn't go outside the home with anything though.

**TooBigToFit** · March 5th, 2021, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by jthrelf

When your family members filled out their stuff hopefully they purchased two pistol purchase permits along with their FOID. Those DO expire but apparently the expiration on newly issued permits has been extended (maybe to 6 months?) due to the plandemic.

My suggestion would be to bug, hassle, and constantly ask about the status of their documents. Squeaky wheel gets the grease in NJ for these things in my indirect (friends and family) experience.

Nothing is wrong - NJ is just blowing up the prescribed timelines and of course they don't care. To avoid anymore delays tell them to purchase their long guns in PA at a dealer that knows the NJ process like Tanner's.

Further, I don't see why him not having an FOID is a problem with a gun in the home. I wouldn't go outside the home with anything though.

The FPID is required for purchasing guns, not for owning them. However, it does grant you more freedom in travel with long guns. Travelling without one requires you to be going directly to or from specific exempted locations.