marblesmike

So after talking to a couple lawyers (including my dad) I have decided to just forget about this...for now. I'd really need a new letter/doctor and with my health insurance I just don't want to pay the extra money for it. I'm planning on moving soon, and I already live 10 minutes from Philly so I might just move to the other side of the bridge. I just hope that this whole experience won't come up on my federal background check when I go to get a gun as a PA resident. Anyone know about this? Just figured I'd give an update.

No worries, sorry for seeming defensive. BTW I like your handle. I was actually pretty fortunate to go to Romania last summer and visit Vlad's last standing castle. It was pretty magnificent! If anyone else has any similar experiences or some extra advice that'd be great. I'll update this thread as I progress through the appeals process. Even though I'm in South Jersey, would joining the ANJRPC help me in any way?

See below for my comments.

Yeah, my dad talked to some other people and he was told unofficially that NJ's FID policy is to deny someone for any reason they can find.

I did things according to how he said to do them. I talked to his attorney who would only give me relevent information (like where to send the appeal letter to) if I paid him, which is NOT what Anthony said would happen. Eventually he gave me the info for free (I assume after Anthony talked to him). I had the appeal all set up last summer and talked to the prosecutor myself (after he talked to my lawyer dad) and he told me to just hold off, get a new doctor's note and then reapply, which I did. The police dept told my doctor he needed to vouch for my health in the future, which is impossible. My doctor AND the prosecutor both agreed that no one will sign off on someone's health in the future since no one can predict it, and according to that logic I completely agree. Not to mention that the statute only questions my CURRENT mental health and ability to own a firearm, so I'm not sure why the police dept forced my doctor into saying something that would get me denied. I'm going to appeal this and go to court. If the judge still denies me I can reapply and do this again and save up for a lawyer in the meantime. But I'm hoping that my dad will be able to help me in court (he does know how to read the law and interpret it) or knows someone who can help pro bono. Telling me that I should "find another hobby" or that I should have listened to so and so (which I did) doesn't really help my situation. I was hoping that by sharing my story other people would share smiliar experiences or what to expect in the appeal hearing.

BUMPing this old thread. I could still use some advice. Here's an update: After filing the appeal last summer, my lawyer dad got in contact with the prosecutor who handles the FID cases in Camden County. Basically he suggested that I pull my appeal and get a new letter from a new doctor. So I did that. I talked to my primary care doctor who temporarily had prescribed me medication (which I have NOT had to take in over two years) and he wrote me a short letter summarizing that I've been in his care for over ten years and that currently I'm in good mental health and that he sees no reason why I shouldn't be granted an FID card. I reapplied this summer, and after running the background checks with everything coming back clear they decided that the letter from my doc was too vague. They at least made an effort and called my doctor and told him what they were looking for in a letter. Apparently they told him that he needed to not only vouch for my mental health status now, but for the future as well. He submitted a new letter which basically said the same as the first, went on to say that I currently don't suffer from any mental health symptoms and currently he sees no reason to deny me an FID card. So far so good, until the last paragraph where he said something to the effect of (paraphrasing) "...but due to the nature of mental health issues and illnesses, I cannot say with any certainty that Mike will forever be symptom free." BAM! Denial. I got in contact with the prosecutor again and he said that it's a tough call because all they are looking for is for him to say that I am CURRENTLY and PRESENTLY symptom free, but that he "shot me in the foot" by adding that bit at the end. He told me I'd have a tough (but not impossible) case in front of the judge and that I should either contact my doctor and ask him to remove that last sentence in regards to the future or find another doctor who'd be willing to take the liability (yeah, like that will happen). He agreed that it would be difficult to find a doctor willing to do that and even offered to talk to my doctor and tell him what needs to be in the letter. I talked to the doc and he said the police dept told him he needed to vouch for me in the present and future, to which he said he could never vouch for anyone's physical or mental health in the future. He refused to change the letter or issue me a new one because he feels he did what the police dept told him to do and at this point he'd be more comfortable with the judge making the decision. I tried to explain to him that I'm about the enter the appeal process and that the judge will be making a decision at this point and that the prosecutor was willing to talk to him and explain what they're looking for. He still refused. So....any suggestions? I am still going through will filing the appeal and will go to court. I cannot afford to hire an atty, so that's out of the question. Does anyone know any pro-2a doctors in the southern half of NJ (or in the Philly area) that would be willing to run an evaluation? Should I have my lawyer dad accompany me to court? He's aware of the law and has offered to give me guidance on what to say in the appeal hearing, but would it be that much more effective if he's present with me as my counsel? Any other suggestions? Thanks guys, much appreciation, and sorry for rambling on.

Pm sent. I'm actually probably just going to get my primary care doctor to write me a letter since he's the one that regulates and oversees my medication. He already told me he'd write a letter clearing me for a FID purchase. And according to the actual statute referenced in my denial letter, that should be enough: No permit should be issued — To any person who suffers from a physical defect or disease which would make it unsafe for him to handle firearms, to any person who has ever been confined for a mental disorder, or to any alcoholic unless any of the foregoing persons produces a certificate of a medical doctor or psychiatrist licensed in New Jersey, or other satisfactory proof, that he is no longer suffering from that particular disability in such a manner that would interfere with or handicap him in the handling of firearms; to any person who knowingly falsifies any information on the application form for a handgun purchase permit or firearms purchaser identification card So we'll see. As of today, the appeal letters are written and have been sent via certified and regular mail to all of the recipients.

Should I be up front and tell him I need an independent evaluation for a firearms permit?

Update: I talked to Frank Pisano and told him that I wanted to handle this ProSe, but that I just needed to know where to send the appeal letters. He told me that I need to send one to Camden County Superior Court Judge Natal, the Camden County Prosecutors Office, the Office of the Superintendant of State Police, and to the chief of police in Haddonfield (my town). I just need to find a doctor here in south Jersey that will give me a fair evaluation and write a letter on my behalf. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and I'll update this thread as there are new developments in my case.

Oh and I understand the need for background checks and all that, but just because they do background checks doesn't mean they should just be able to deny anyone for anything. Also, like in my case, I was trying to be proactive and avoid any issues and file all my paperwork and forms correctly. They had every opportunity to be helpful and assist me in the process. Instead they just ignored me then eventually denied me. That really makes me feel like a peon.

I left a message for Frank Pisano, so hopefully I'll hear from him by mid-week. I have to file the appeal by next week at the latest before i head off to Europe on the 19th. I'll keep this thread updated with any progress. Also, any info about the appeals process would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I kept up with the whole process, and was in contact with the shrinks office when they sent the letter. I was hoping the police would cut me some slack and give me the necessary information to go get the evaluation before denying me. Instead they never returned my calls and waited 3 months to issue me a denial letter. That's what gets me the most. This whole thing could have easily been avoided. I'm glad I didn't lie on the form, but at the same time I kinda wish I did because that seems the only way I could have avoided all of this.

Overanalyzed? How so? Should I have not mentioned it to them?

Thanks, I'll consider that, but I'm really not trying to get an attorney unless I really need one. I don't have excess thousands to spend right now. I just want to know where/how to file the appeal properly so it doesn't get swept under the rug.

I appreciate that they check up on people, but when I made every attempt to be honest with the application process, then tried to take action before they denied me by seeking the proper channels with getting evaluated, etc and they ignored my phone calls makes it seem like they "arbitrarily denied" me.