crow

Went through this a few years ago. Relative in PA left me a couple of firearms in a will. A single action pistol and a rimfire rifle. Called NJ state police to make sure I had the right info. FFLs too frightened and give ultra conservative response. Trooper told me if the guns were written into a will, both guns were mine. I could go pick them up. Problem arose when the estate hired an appraiser/auction house with an FFL. Once in the possession of the out of state FFL I could not go pick up the pistol and transport it to NJ, I could only take the long gun home. Also said it was not a requirement to register your guns in NJ. That happens when you make a legal purchase thru an FFL anyway. One form NJ requires is a statement by the FFL that the firearm does not meet the legal NJ description of an "assault weapon". 547 form???? Buy a BB gun out of state and this form must be filled out. To take possession of MY pistol, I had no option except to apply for a permit to purchase and designate an FFL in NJ to which the pistol would be sent by the PA FFL. The PA FFL placed the expensive single action revolver, loose, in a large cardboard box that was in tatters and mailed it to NJ FFL. The NJ FFL was beside himself at how the gun was packaged. He saved the cardboard box to show me...that aside. The trooper I spoke to was the guy who headed the dept, not some neighbor who happened to be a trooper. Talked a couple of times, could get nothing in writing. Firearm laws in NJ have everyone on edge and fearful of making a mistake. Everyone is running scared with laws seemingly subject to interpretation by activist judges and prosecutors. you could be right, but it will cost all you own to prove it in court. If you mean by inheritance, a relative said you can have his guns and his wishes were not stated in a will, then the above is of no use. Do not read the law and think you know what it says. Suggest a call to state police, appropriate dept, and get the right information. Legal language of laws may not change, but do not count on the interpretation to be the same over time or over court jurisdictions. Did I mention, contact the state police in Trenton, appropriate dept, for the latest legal interpretation?

Went to Maine gun shop with private seller, filled out paperwork, did a nics and away I went. I expected a time delay to run the nics but the shop said they never had a delay running a nics. So if ME and NJ access a national database, why would it be instant in Maine and take weeks in Nj? I don't know what the wait in Nj is today but in the spring it was about 2 weeks, I had heard some waited longer. Thanks for the advice.

Okay, that makes sense, so the best course is just to find an FFL local to the out of state seller, go there, fill out whatever forms and COE and carry the gun back into NJ. Correct?

Feedback on original post. NJ state police said if pistol was 'bequeathed' as written in the will, the gun is legally mine and I can go pick it up and bring back to NJ. However, the estate/gun was turned over to an auction house with an ffl. So the bottom line was I needed to get a PTP a pistol from NJ, then have the auction house transfer the pistol to a nj FFL. when the pistol permit came though, I picked up the gun from tthe NJ ffl. The lawyers advised the executor of the will to 'get rid' of the two boxes of ammo so I never got that. The PA auction house put the SA Colt 45 in a weak cardboard box with some scraps of bubble wrap and put it in the mail. My FFL saved the box to show me. Could never get a call back from PA state police. Lesson, NJ laws are murky, no one in authority will document anything said, everyone is running scared and 'your' personal interpretation of even the most seemingly clearly stated law is useless.

I wish to purchase a bolt action rifle from a resident of another state. I have a Nj FID. The law says it must be transferred thru A. NJ dealer or B. out of state dealer Not sure how to interpret option A. Does this allow me to purchase the gun out of state in person, bring it back to NJ, go to an FFL, fill out a COE or does this mean something entirely different?

Here is an update. Went to another gun shop who directed me to the NJ state police dept that deals in firearm regs. The dective told me all I need to do was to go to PA and pick up the gun from the executor. The local PA town sheriff told the exec that an FFL to FFL transfer was required. Not sure if he was clear on the law or generally speaking. Now trying to figure out the best source in PA for an answer to be sure NJ and PA regs do not conflict. Phoned the gun lawyer who has ads in the F&G reg booklet but after two calls over two weeks and no response, have given up pursuing that avenue. Now i just have to figure out if the PA sheriff was correct and who to contact in PA for a final word. This is crazy. With such severe penalties at stake it would seem the legal path should be well marked and well known. .

A revolver has been bequeathed to me in a will from a recently deceased uncle in PA. I live in Nj and have a FID. From what I gather, in order to be perfectly legal, the pistol has to be taken to a PA FFL who then sends it to a local NJ FFL. I fill out the necessary transfer info and the gun is mine. Would the executor in PA have to take the gun to the PA FFL or can I go to PA, get the gun from the executor take it to the PA FFL ? How crazy does this have to be? Anyone see this differently? Any other thoughts? Thanks, Crow.

So you figure it was a plea deal which exempted him? This case bought to mind a case I personally know of where a kid who had just months before turned 18, had absolutely no record of any kind, never been in any trouble but had a brain fart and decided to hold up a gas station with a bb gun. Go figure, what the heck he was thinking! He pulls the bb gun and the attendant pretty much walks away to call the police. The kid is picked up within an hour without incident. Judge said he regretted having to apply the Graves act based on the circumstances but the kid served just short a month or two of 3 years in Yardville. Last 20 years the kid has been on the straight and narrow. So when I see a guy who killed another guy get exempted from this mandatory law I have to scratch my head. The kid should have been punished severely but not 3 years. I wonder if anyone has stats on how many have escaped the Graves act. I'm not a fan of mandatory sentencing or for tossing so many in jail. Also how many have had the Graves act applied. How effective has the Graves act been? People go on the taxpayers dole when sent to prison, too many there now that should be supporting themselves and doing 'restitution' rather than having us spending $40K a year to cage them. More feel good laws we don't need. Thanks for your replys!

Recently a former NBA basketball player, Jayson Williams was convicted of charges stemming from the shooting death of his chauffer. I thought the Graves law would have mandated he serve 3 years on top of any other sentence imposed. Apparently the mandatory law was not applied in his case. Does anyone know why the mandatory sentence did not apply to him? Thanks