I lived and worked in NJ, for 31 years. I had to send an email to the State Senator in my district, about the slow response (89 days) for a “Permit to Purchase a Handgun”. The detective in charge of this was an A$$. He was anti-gun, all the way. I would go for three permits, at a time. He called me and wanted to know could I afford three handguns in 90 days. I messed with him, I purchased three and one time.
He must of heard from the Senator’s office, my next permits were processed in 30 days.
When I knew that I was going to retire, moved to PA. Got my carry permit without a hitch. I’m now in Florida for the final hitch.
My family is a long time Jersey family, we have been there since before the Revolutionary War. I’m one of 6 kids, only one of my sisters is left in NJ.
We left there in 2004. It was the best thing we ever did. Now in NE PA but working in Phillipsburg, NJ could never go back. It’s a shame because there are many good folks in the Garden State. Still fill up the tank in Pburg though!
I like to say that my home in PA, sitting on it’s 3.5 acres would cost 4 times what I paid for it 10 years ago and the taxes would be $1000.00/month.—if it were in NJ. We sold our house in Tuckerton, a 1100 sq ft ranch on a 100 x 100 foot lot for $25,ooo more than we paid for our PA home, 1800 sq ft plus a 2 car detached on a nice quiet street, big yard and half the taxes.
The last time I bought a handgun in NJ, it took me 5 months to get the purchase permit and cost $48.00. Moved over the border and the got my PA CCR in 29 minutes. 29 minutes and I can shoot in my back yard, no one cares.
Probably the only thing I really miss about Jersey and the shore is the boating opportunities. Here we have a lake and there are no horsepower restrictions but it’s only a lake. I grew up in Belmar, we had the Shark River Marina and the Atlantic Ocean right there. That was nice and even as kids we knew it was a special place.