New Jersey law has had that effect for maybe 50 years or more. You may not possess a firearm without possessing state permission in the form of a permit to purchase. A firearm you legally possess may not be carried outside your home or business without a permit to carry. To obtain a carry permit you must prove a NEED to be armed. The proof is almost never considered sufficient, unless of course you are among the "connected".
I've tried several times over the years to search the number of carry applications submitted and the number of permits granted but could find no data on either. There are 8 reasons for denial on the permit form. I listed them here:
A. CRIMINAL RECORD
B. PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE
C. MEDICAL, MENTAL OR ALCOHOLIC BACKGROUND
D. NARCOTICS/ DANGEROUS DRUG OFFENSE
E. FALSIFICATION OF APPLICATION
F. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
G. LACK OF JUSTIFIABLE NEED
H. OTHER (SPECIFY)
Any bets that G is the most common "reason" given in denials?
It is absolutely essential that Trump win in November and that we hold the Senate. Thomas and Alito could each retire. Breyer and Ginsburg are unlikely to make it another 4 years and as for the Wide Latina, she could croak at any moment. I could easily see whoever wins the White House in November getting to appoint 2, maybe even 3 Supreme Court Justices.
Clear infringements on our 2nd Amendment rights like what you described in New Jersey and the rest of the communist states can only be stopped by Supreme Court decisions. We need to replace at least a couple of the Gang of Four. Only then will our constitutional rights be secure. Only then will we be able to sweep away the unconstitutional gun grabbing.