A chat with some officers over my last NJ handgun purchasers permit application
Posted on November 25th, 2008 by bile Tags: 2nd Amendment, Barney Fife, Google, gun control, gun permit, guns, handgun, New Hampshire, New Jersey, police, state police, TexasBack in February, on the 5th, I applied for 2 hand gun purchasers permits as required by New Jersey Statute 2C:58-3(a). After 10 months, to the day, I received confirmation that the permits were ready for pickup. On my way back from a weekend in New Hampshire I stopped in to the Sbeg Yrr Cbyvpr Qrcnegzrag to pick up my permits. After waiting a few minutes the record bureau supervisor came out with my folder. I entered the small room between the main hallway and the records room where they take fingerprints among other things. After signing the two permits I was asked if there was anything else and I inquired about obtaining a complaint form. I was told they don’t have one and that I could either talk to someone specifically or the officer at the front window. I would have preferred a form so as to be specific and thorough but I decided to talk with the officer when offered the chance…
- The officer started by saying he was “dying” to talk with me.
- It was admitted that while NJ Statute 2C:58-3(f) says the permit is to be issued within 30 days of receiving the application the state police interpret that to mean after all the paperwork is finished and returned.
- Some at Sbeg Yrr Cbyvpr Qrcnegzrag apparently use Google Alerts to scan for any mention of the organization online.
- As a result they came across this blog.
- The record bureau supervisor was not particularly thrilled with the posts which have appeared on this blog regarding my experiences with them.
- While being “courteous” was brought up several times the record bureau supervisor said I had not been discourteous to him. Yet he implied that by blogging about my experiences I was being discourteous.
- The application was submitted on February 5th. The Request for Criminal History Record Information was not responded to till March 13th. During the conversation the officer said it was submitted on April 5th which is approximately the time I first called to query about the status of the application since no reference letters were sent. Clearly indicating to me the application was sat on till I called.
- My primary issue was the lack of professionalism in that when I was told I’d receive calls I did not and the obvious and unexplained delays on their end. The issue with laur’s reference form was something to note as was the misunderstanding that the second reference letter had not been received. However, they were not my primary concerns. After the conversation it raises more questions to the officer’s professionalism as he admitted reading my blog and having personal issues with it. It would seem to me by his behavior that day that it’s entirely likely a reason I didn’t receive any calls back was due to my public complaints. Don’t try to hide behind the law or the state police’s interpretation. Deception and lies are far worse then slow bureaucracy.
- As for the law. The state police are supposed enforcers of the law. Assuming statute law is legitimate vs natural law… how convenient that when it applies to them they are able to liberally reinterpretate it to better suit themselves. I doubt very much I’d get the same leeway should I reinterperate the local ordinances against parking near the yellowed curb or purchasing a firearm without a background check.
- If any officers of the SYCQ come across this let me suggest reading about laur’s experience with the Nutley Police Department. Part 1 and Part 2.
Read parts of our conversation on page 2.
Pages: 1 2
7 Responses to “A chat with some officers over my last NJ handgun purchasers permit application”
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November 26th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I put in my paperwork in Tinton Falls, the other day. So far, they’ve been pretty nice to me, and they’ve basically pinned the bureaucratic nonsense on the State Police.
For example, I first came in with my paperwork– already complete– last week, to drop it off. The lady at the desk informed me that, apparently, a number of people fill out paperwork similarly on the Internet, read about the $5 an $2 fees, and think that’s everything. Unfortunately, she said, the State Police neglect to inform people of their own fees and procedures on that site. I’d need an extra $60.25 in the form of a Money Order or Certified Check made out to the Dept. of State Police SBI.
Now, that immediately set off bells and whistles in my head. According to State Law, there are to be absolutely no conditions or requirements beyond the Mental Health Check, the Application, and the $5 and $2 fees. She also said that it often takes three months before they hear anything back from the State Police.
I’m going to check in with her, early next week, to see if I can’t get some contact information for someone in the State Police who might know about these extraneous policies, in order to follow up. Unfortunately, I was talking to the guys at my gun club yesterday and heard that it’s pretty common for things like this to happen. Even heard a quick anecdote that one guy took the Stateys to court, because they took too long to issue his permits, but the NJ Supreme Court ruled in the favor of the Police, regardless of the Law. I’m going to try to verify that case, as well.
You can be sure, I’ll let you know what I find!
November 26th, 2008 at 8:57 am
That $60.25 fee she is referring to is the cost to fingerprint first time applicants. This is a one-time fee (since you will only need to be printed once). It used to be $52 or so, but increased on or around 9/19 of last year.
Since fingerprinting is a mandatory step of the fire arms permit process, it’s unlikely you can get around that fee.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I don’t see why they charge you that much for it, considering they do it themselves. They privatized the fingerprinting process for many state workers and they have you go through Sagem Morpho who does a terrible job and charges through the nose for it. As far as firearms permits though, they do it themselves.
November 29th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Thanks, Laur. I had a feeling it was in regards to the fingerprinting, but it seemed pretty exorbitant. In any event, I’m hoping to have a happy experience, through this whole process.
…”hoping,” being the key phrase, there.
November 29th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I don’t know if people noticed but there is a second page to this story with snippets of dialog.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
[...] have elapsed since the date of application for the permit.” Given that can take upwards of 10 months for the application I don’t see what this is [...]
January 8th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
[...] here were already aware that police knew how to use Google. At least Google Alerts so they can keep track of anyone who talks about them. If these departments [...]