New Jersey has some of the strictest firearm laws in the United States. Period. If you’re looking for a "walk-in, walk-out" experience like you might find in Pennsylvania or Virginia, you’re in for a massive reality check. Buying a firearm here is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a process defined by the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) and the FARS (Firearms Application Reporting System). Honestly, the system is designed to be thorough, which is a polite way of saying it’s incredibly tedious and involves a lot of waiting around for local bureaucrats to sign off on your background.
You've probably heard horror stories about six-month wait times. Sometimes that’s true. Other times, if you live in a proactive township, it might only take three weeks. But before you even look at a holster, you need to understand that the Garden State treats gun ownership as a privilege that requires multiple layers of digital and physical vetting.
The first hurdle: Understanding how to buy a gun in New Jersey
Everything starts with the Firearms Purchaser Identification Card, commonly called an "FID" or "FID Card." You cannot legally buy a long gun—that’s your shotguns and rifles—without this plastic (or now, mostly digital) card. If you want a handgun? That’s an entirely different beast. You need the FID plus a specific Permit to Purchase a Handgun for every single pistol you intend to buy.
Applying is done through the NJSP FARS portal. You’ll need your ORI number. What’s an ORI? It’s a specific code for your local police department. If you enter the wrong one, your application goes to the wrong town, and you’ve just donated your application fee to the void. People mess this up constantly. Call your local PD or check their website first. Don't guess.
The digital paper trail
When you log into the FARS system, you’re going to need to provide two references. These can't just be people who think you're "cool." They need to be people who can vouch for your mental stability and lack of a criminal record. The system emails them a questionnaire immediately. If your buddies are bad at checking their spam folders, your application will sit in limbo forever. Tell them to keep an eye out.
You also have to deal with IdentoGO. This is the third-party company New Jersey uses for fingerprinting. You’ll get a contributor case number after filing your FARS application, and then you have to book an appointment to get your prints scanned. It costs money. Usually around $60 to $70, depending on the current state contract fees. It’s annoying, but it’s a one-time thing for your initial FID.
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Navigating the handgun permit trap
Let’s say you want a Glock 19. You don't just apply for your FID and hope for the best. You must apply for a handgun permit at the same time. These permits used to be paper slips, but now they are electronic.
Here’s the kicker: Handgun permits in NJ are only valid for 90 days.
They can be extended for another 90 days (usually automatically in the new digital system), but if you don't use it, you lose it. And you can only buy one handgun every 30 days. This is the "One Gun a Month" law. It’s strictly enforced by the NICS (National Instant Check System). If you try to buy a second pistol on day 29, the state will flag it, and you might find yourself explaining things to a detective.
What they’re looking for in your background
NJ law (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3) is pretty specific about who gets denied. It isn't just about felony convictions. They look at:
- Any history of domestic violence (even certain "disorderly persons" offenses).
- Mental health records. You have to sign a waiver allowing the state to check with institutional records.
- Physical defects or diseases that would make it "unsafe" for you to handle a firearm.
- The "catch-all" clause: To any person where the issuance would not be in the interest of the public health, safety or welfare.
That last one is controversial because it gives local Police Chiefs a bit of discretionary power, though recent court rulings like NYSRPA v. Bruen have shifted the landscape on how much "discretion" can actually be used to deny constitutional rights.
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Selecting a dealer and the "NJ Compliance" headache
Once you finally have your electronic permits and your FID, you go to a Gun Store. But wait. You can't just buy anything on the shelf in America and bring it home. New Jersey has an Assault Firearms Law that is legendary for its complexity.
Rifles must be "NJ Compliant." This basically means:
- No bayonet lugs (because how many drive-by bayonetings actually happen?).
- No grenade launchers (fair enough).
- No adjustable/telescoping stocks. They must be "pinned" or fixed in place.
- No threaded barrels unless a muzzle brake or compensator is permanently "pinned and welded."
- Magazine capacity is capped at 10 rounds. If you buy a rifle online and ship it to a New Jersey FFL (Federal Firearms Licensee), and it comes with a 15-round or 30-round magazine, the dealer cannot give you those magazines. They will either pin them to 10 rounds for a fee or simply confiscate them. It’s a bummer, but it’s the law.
The NICS wait: The final boss
You’ve picked your gun. You’ve handed over your FID and your ID. You’ve paid for the firearm. Now, the dealer runs a NICS check. In many states, this takes 10 minutes. In New Jersey, the State Police act as the middleman for the FBI.
During busy seasons—like hunting season or during political unrest—the NICS queue can back up. I've seen it take eight days. You don't get to take your gun home that day. You wait for the call. Only when the NJSP gives the "Proceed" can you go back to the store, sign the final paperwork, and finally, actually, buy a gun in New Jersey.
Why the "Exemptions" matter
You can't just drive around with your new purchase. NJ law is very strict about transport. Unless you have a Permit to Carry a Handgun (which is now attainable but requires a whole different set of training and fees), you must transport your firearm "unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile."
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Basically, it needs to be inaccessible. And you are generally only allowed to transport it between the place of purchase, the range, your home, or a repair shop. No stopping at the grocery store on the way back from the range. That "deviation" could technically land you in legal hot water.
Practical steps for the aspiring owner
If you’re serious about this, don't just wing it. The paperwork is unforgiving. Start by visiting the NJSP Firearms Information page. Read the statutes. Then:
- Find a reputable local FFL. Go talk to the guys at the counter. They know which local police departments are being slow and which ones are following the law.
- Apply for more handgun permits than you think you need. It costs the same in terms of the background check fee (though there is a small per-permit fee). If you think you might want two pistols this year, apply for both permits at once so you don't have to redo the whole FARS process and fingerprinting later.
- Join a range. New Jersey doesn't have much public land for shooting. You’ll likely need a membership at a private club or frequent an indoor commercial range.
- Take a safety course. Even if you grew up around guns, NJ's laws are so specific that a "Law for Gun Owners" class is worth its weight in gold.
Navigating the bureaucracy is the hardest part. Once you're through the FARS portal and have your FID in your digital wallet, the rest is just about following the safety rules and staying within the strict magazine and transport limits. It's a lot of hoops, but for thousands of New Jerseyans every year, it's a process they navigate successfully by being patient and meticulously organized with their paperwork.
Check your local ordinances too. Some towns have weird specific rules about where you can discharge a firearm, even on your own property, which can differ wildly from the state-level mandates. Stay informed, stay legal, and keep your references on speed dial so they hit "submit" on those forms the second they get the email.