keiji

I hear that gun laws in NJ are especially strict, and approval of a permit is determined by whether or not your chief of police thinks you should have one, even if you are not a "prohibited person". However, I am worried about something in my past that might bar me from obtaining a permit/ID. When I was 16, I found out that my father was alive after believing he had passed away more than twelve years prior. Turned out that he abandoned me and I was his illegitimate child. I became depressed, and voluntarily went to an outpatient mental facility, and then, also voluntarily, to an inpatient facility. Now I am 21, and I have been toying with the idea of owning a firearm, but am worried about the process. Many other states explicitly state 'confinement' to a mental institution has to be involuntary, but NJ seems to be vague on the matter. Even if I am on the list of "prohibited persons", I can "produce a certificate from a New Jersey licensed medical doctor or psychiatrist, or other satisfactory proof". When do I produce this proof? At application? At an appeal? Or I can get it expunged from my record. The problem is that even if I get a certificate for a clean bill of health, or legally clear out my record, I can still be denied! So I can -Apply, possibly get denied, go to court for an appeal $$$ or -Apply, but -Pony up $$$ to get a psychiatric evaluation (which would also take months of sessions) -Pony up $$$ for a lawyer to deal with it, and more $$$ if I still get denied Is it worth it? Worse case scenario I am looking at a couple of grand just to get my foot in the door, and not even own a firearm! Do any of you have less than perfect records that applied and had to jump through extra hurdles to get your FID? I understand that it may be uncomfortable to talk about such things on a public forum, but would appreciate any advice you can give here, or in private messages. (Yes, I know I can talk to a lawyer, however they will not give advice unless I start feeding them money)