NJScott

Go with SG or Surplus Ammo. Neither requires this.

Wow. I just spent a week in Gilbert...

Picked up my permits today, and it is obvious that I am now, and shall forever be, known by the Bayonne P.D. as "The Letter-Writer", LOL. Seriously, that is what one of the detectives referred to me as, and "The General" let me know that it was never their intent to "diss" anyone by asking for more than the required refs. I alluded to the fact that it wasn't any issue I had with THEM, rather than with the policy itself. Hopefully, we parted as friends.....we'll see, especially since I'm soon going to need my FID replaced due to wear and tear. I drove straight away to Ira's place in Marlboro, where I picked up my new Glock 23 that he had been holding onto for the last month or so, and it is a beauty. As always, the transaction was thoroughly professional and painless, and I'll be +'ing Mr. Levin on another sub-forum in a minute.

I'm supposed to look at "The Hurricane" with a straight face now, Ray? LOL

Notified by Det. Schaefer (?...that's what it sounded like on answering machine message) that my three permits are good to go. It's a little late now and I'm bushed, so I'll pick 'em up first thing when they open. Just a little over 8 weeks this time around, along with a newly-established relationship with the Chief, thanks to letter I wrote to him and the Mayor. Also, they definitely dropped the "neighbor references (yes, they wanted those in ADDITION to the two personal refs required by NJSP)", which will hopefully encourage more people to apply for FID/PP's. Scott in Bayonne

I've caught several of them over the last couple of years on the Keyport pier and in the Manasquan Inlet in Pt. Pleasant. Always drew a little bit of a crowd when I unhooked them. Good to see they are in decent numbers in the open water.

Here is an update on the letters I sent the CP and the mayor of Bayonne: I was away for a week in Arizona (GREAT gun state full of fine, 2A-supporting people; couple of stories to follow soon), and came back to two messages from the BPD chief. I called back this morning but had to leave a message on his voice mail. Around 8pm tonight he called me back to THANK me for the letter I sent him, telling me it's the only way of knowing whether they have issues in the permits department and should change policies around. He claimed that the previous chief, following the events of 9-11, was the one who instituted the "neighbors references (in addition to the two mandated ones)", because persons with terrorist links in Hudson County had applied for various forms of ID's using bogus addresses. The new chief, Bob Kubert, does not believe those references necessary any longer, especially since the DMV instituted their six-point policy when issuing DL's. So, effective immediately, he told the officers in permits to not require FID/PP applicants to provide those ancillary references. When I asked about the work verification policy his department uses, the chief--exhibiting great common sense here--said that it wouldn't matter if an applicant was unemployed or retired re: obtaining FID/PP, so the only reason they would check is because the NJSP requires that info (if working, where, etc.). In his words his detectives would no longer "press the issue" regarding checking with employers via form letters or calling them on the telephone. When I asked if that meant I could supply verification of employment with a pay stub or W-2 when requesting further permits, he said that shouldn't be a problem. All in all, a very good, productive conversation with a gentleman who seemingly cares about issues surrounding police-made difficulties in obtaining permits. I'll issue a caveat here and say that there may be a differing of opinion, or a different interpretation on what "pressing the issue (or not)" means between the good chief and some personnel in the permits division, so contacting Chief Kubert on any future issues may not be a bad idea. In closing, the chief told me that he had signed off on my three permits and that I could pick them up on Monday or Tuesday from "Hurricane" Hurley in the detective's office. Ira, if you're reading this that means I'm coming to pick up my Glock! Regards, Scott Y.

After running four boxes of Winchester White .45's through my Taurus 1911 with zero issues, I tried a box of Aguila; first time I experienced FTF's and FTE's, two each--in a box of 50rds, in this gun. I just shot a box of Remington UMC through her and had no problems, so I'm calling the Aguila crapola.

Give these guys a shout and you should have the ammo in a few days: http://www.sgammo.com/product/surplus/440-rd-sealed-can-762x54r-russian-silver-tip-military-surplus-ammo-1976-factory-188 You can pick up milsurp Mosin rounds at most gun shows, but I've not seen it going as cheap as SG's prices.

OUTSTANDING, Bob!

It is miraculous that the driver of the RV survived this crash. That thing looks like it was made from pressed cardboard.

Why treat the symptoms and not the disease? Why should we have to play this cat and mouse game, where if we are savvy enough to sic the SP on them they will play by the rules, but if the applicant doesn't know any better they'll hold him to an unreasonable and illegal standard? There is no "setting anyone straight", as the BPD knows the rules, they just arbitrarily decided to impose their own on top of them. In my case they are doing the same crap they did in 2010 when I applied. That is unacceptable. What I want to see is a department in sync with the actual laws, with the mayor and police chief aware of the unfair standards that law-abiding citizens are being held to regarding FID's/PP's. I wonder how many folks here in town were dissuaded from pursuing gun ownership once they were told they would have to inform their neighbors of their intent? As pointed out previously, not only is that illegal--it could possibly put the gun owner and their family in jeopardy. In my neighborhood, where I've resided for 40+ years, most of the neighbors I've been closest with have either moved away or passed away. There are newly-arrived people here who don't say a word to anyone else, along with an influx of Section 8 tenants, some of whom I definitely wouldn't want to know of my firearms ownership. NONE of them have a need to know, IMO. @Ray, I don't think they are dumb enough to try any retribution....at least I hope not. I've always been on good terms with the guys on the job that I know, and I'm not really going after any officers, just the institutional mindset that treats us like second-class citizens.

First, I'm going to try and hold my elected/appointed officials accountable. Should that fail then its a call to the NJSP.

If you're going to venture out of Union County, and someone is nice enough to rig you up for some trout, then head immediately for Hot Dog Johnny's in Buttzville on Rte. 46. In-between hot dogs and root beers, you can toss your lines into the beautiful Pequest River that runs right behind the joint. No better way to spend a sunny spring day, IMO.

Here is a good place to start: http://njbassanglers.com/. Membership well worth the money for the knowledge and resources you'll gain from hanging around there. I don't know where you are in Union County, but there is a rich and varied bunch of fishing holes there, from Surprise Lake and Echo Park Pond in Mountainside, to Nomahegan Pond in Cranford, all healthy with Largemouth bass, along with some perch, crappies, etc. Trout season just opened last week, but I'd expect most of them to be dead and gone by now except in the deepest portions of any stocked bodies of water. Good luck and have fun!

I believe they are "temporarily" on the 2nd floor in City Hall. Exactly where I do not know. For hours, call: 201-858-6953

None of what you experienced surprises me in the least. While there are a couple of decent guys in that office, by and large there is an overwhelming sense of arrogance and condescension when one applies for PP 's in Bayonne. You definitely get the vibe from them that only cops should have guns, your 2A rights be damned. Best thing I can tell you to do is contact Frank Fiamingo at the NJ2AS: [email protected], and share your experience with him. They already are working on my behalf, and in this case there is definitely strength in numbers.

Thanks, guys. Your support is greatly appreciated. I'll update as it becomes available.

Well, my letters to the Chief and the Mayor went out today, with Jack Fiamingo of NJ2AS copied in, so we shall see what we shall see. At this point I don't even care about any possible repercussions arising from this as I'm pretty damned sick and tired of being treated like an annoyance, or a cretin even, because of my desire to purchase and master the use of handguns. Okay, let me get back to checking the PA real estate listings on Trulia now.....

My nephew and I went to Range 14 today to finally unharness the goodness that is named Mosin, and had a terrific time. Except for the stiff breeze blowing, conditions were perfect. The renovated range is a huge improvement, with plenty of room between stations, new lighting, sturdy benches, etc. They could, of course, provide more post hole diggers, but why quibble? Got there at 1:30, started shooting at 1:50 and stayed until 3:50. No lines to speak of, and I'd estimate that at no time were more than 12-15 lanes in use. Good to see the amount of young people shooting today, with several families on either side of us enjoying the range. All of the anti-nonsense aside, I'd say the recreational shooting activity has a great future. The wildfires came perilously-close to the skeet range, with the treeline on both sides of the Range 14 access road totally charred.

@Anthony: you don't indicate what town you live in, but I can guaran-damn-tee you that I won't be treated like a celebrity once I've called the Staties on the Bayonne P.D. I'm drafting a letter now to the chief of police and the mayor concerning these arbitrary requirements for PP's and then I'll give them one week to respond. After that I'll contact the NJSP for their intervention. I'm going to copy NJ2AS on all correspondence too. Thanks all! Scott

@PizzaBob: Sorry, should have been clearer on that: yes, in ADDITION to my two refs, who returned their forms the first week of March. As for the work verification, the officer offered to fax another form to my agency, an option I'm not crazy about as the fax is shared by the entire 90 person office.

Submitted paperwork for three PP's on 2/27. Called to follow up first time today and was told work hadn't verified, and that the PD was "...waiting on your neighbors ". The delay at work I believe, as it is a black hole for things like this, but I made an issue of the "neighbors" requirement. Even though I agreed to supply two neighbors' names and phone numbers the last time I put in for PP's(largely because I was assured by the detective that it would expedite things, yet it still took nearly four months), I told him that I'm not going to do it as it wasn't required by law. This did not go over well, and he mumbled something about how everything goes through Sgt., then Lt. and up to Chief. A complete non-reply if I ever heard one. I don't think these guys are used to getting any push back on their arbitrary "requirements". I'm just curious if anyone else in town has had similar issues?

Beautiful animal...sorry for your loss.

Rocky, 14-years old and still full of hell. My former neighbor rescued him from some homeless people who couldn't care for him, near the Holland Tunnel when he was around a year old.