doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What's req'd to come to NJ or PA with my gun?

If I wanted to come to NJ or PA to shoot, what, if anything is required for me to bring a gun into the state?

I am from Pa. and hunt both states. Pa. is relatively free and does not have rules about bringing guns here (assuming you are not a felon), but if you intend to hunt you have to follow Pa. Game Commission regs re caliber/gauge, ammo type, etc. As for shooting, the only limitations are those imposed by the ranges themselves.
NJ is more like California with respect to guns. Nonetheless, there are gun clubs there and we hunt, though not with centerfire rifles.
Since gunwise, it is a semi-police state, I would double check all information I got from the Internet.

GWP,
Thanks. CA does not require any particular actions of a visitor with a gun other than 'unloaded and inaccessable' in a vehicle like most states. Does NJ require any notification or permit to enter the state, retain possession, and shoot at ranges while in the state?

Chuck; I don't know anything about NJ but I live in Ohio and travel back and forth once a month to PA with multiple guns each time. I always keep all guns cased and ammo in a carrier bag of sorts. I have an SUV so technically they can be reached together but I have never had an issue. I've been doing it for 18 years. Although I have never been pulled over either. I did have a friend hit a deer in PA while traveling to NY to duck hunt. He said there was a firearm and he was going hunting(4AM). He was cuffed and taken to the station and was told it was procedure. No other problems but just a bit of a hassle. Got his gun and picked up in time to get his limit.

Chuck: NJ is a patchwork of no, maybe, and don't get stopped. I shoot at two clubs in south Jersey; am a member of one. Guns in compartment with no access from passenger cmptmt [for me that means a dog barrier behind the seats in 4RUNNER]; guns cased and cases locked; ammo in separate locked container. Standard reply if stopped: "I am en route to range" or "I am enroute home". I don't agonize over whether I am allowed to refuel "enroute" but I don't leave vehicle unlocked and unattended and I don't buy ANYTHING ELSE [not "home of tax-free shopping so why would I?]and don't make relief stops so am reasonably compliant (in my view) with the law/customary and recommended precautions as I understand them. I also have never been stopped so that's probably an agony of de facto intimidation/confiscatin I've been spared. Better get a NJ CLEO in the jurisdiction you wish to visit and the state laws and dig in.

jack

Pa. doesn't have a gun case law, you will see pickups with rifles and shotguns in a rack. Must be unloaded. Pistols can be carried with a permit (God help you if you use it.) Unless a felon they really can't turn you down to get a carry permit. Why you would want one, who knows.
N.J. is another ball game, all guns cased and ammo in seperate part of vehicle. Pistols not sure of. Legally, years ago it was that if you were going from one county to another to shoot you had to notify every county you were passing through. That is legally, when I lived there and going skeet shooting never did it. I believe it pertains to pistols.
Varmit hunting with a rifle you need a special license to do so and that is your permission to carry.

Chuck,

Rabbit gives good advise. NJ gun laws are as crazy as any state in the union. Double check before going to NJ.

PA is the exact opposite. As long as you stay out of Philly, you are good to go.

What's the deal on Philly?

Chuck,

I know that everyone thinks NJ is nuts but it is not any worse than many other states. I have lived here all of my life and I have never had any problems transporting a properly cased gun anywhere in the state. No need to notify the whole state that you are transporting a gun that I am aware of. I hope you make a point of calling me if you come to NJ to do some shooting.

Bill G.

talk to a NJ CLEO, Lawyer or at least a established respectable firearms dealer first to get info about the new rstrictions on purchase and possibly possession of ANY ammo in NJ. a NJ subject MUST have a valid NJ Firearms ID in posession to buy or poseess any ammo here. It would be wise to check on how that affects outsiders who want to come here to shoot/hunt.

I would immagine that you should be fine if you are just passing thru but stopping here to shoot/hunt can be a very different matter.