I know a few people in NJ. Their property taxes are in the $15,000 a year range. They have to ask permission to buy a each and every firearm. Their courts are so liberal as to be ineffective. Why stay? I know these guys are all looking to move out.
I'm going through this miserable process now, and your statement is not technically true. You have to go through a thorough proctology exam to get a firearms purchase card which is good forever and permits long barrel firearm purchases (rifles, shotguns) without going back for more "permission" in the form of licensing or checks.
However for handguns, you can only get a purchase license for a specified number of handguns (I think no more than five or six) and it is only good for something like 90 days, after which you have to go through the proctology exam again if you want another.
The process has questionnaires being sent to all sorts of references who will get to say whether they object to you having a firearm. So basically my 2nd amendment right is being put up to a vote of my references and my family. But you are correct that I will need to do this again and again if I plan to buy handguns in the future.