newkay_1988

Alright guys, I've posted this question in several places. I keep getting mixed messages. So finally, I got off my butt and went right "to the source". I called up the district magistrate office in Pennsylvania where the original citation is filed. I asked them, they said it wont be a problem because a summary offense is just like a "write-up" its not a misdemeanor or felony and therefore, technically not a crime in Pennsylvania. I secondly, called the Pennsylvania State Police barracks where that officer was that cited me. I specifically spoke to him and he said that he does not know about NJ but in PA that would not prohibit me from purchasing a firearm. Now of course, those people were in PA, so I didnt stop there. I took a trip to the county police, where handgun permits apps are submitted and their fate either granted or denied. I spoke to the Sargeant nonetheless and he said that because the grading of the offense was not a misdemeanor in PA, its not enough to prohibit a gun permit. He said in NJ it's a misdemeanor (disorderly persons offenses, you guys call them here) and thats why it'd be a problem if it happened in NJ. The last person I talked to, happened to be in charge of the domestic violence division there. His words were, "If that were to have happened in NJ, you would not be charged anyway, because he threw the knife at you and punched you, causing injury, you twisting hit wrist and pushing him off you, you were defending yourself, you would still not be charged here in NJ." He then confirmed that, even still, its not a conviction, its a citation, and that if it were "true" domestic violence, I woulda been arrested, fingerprinted and have had something put on my record. So it appears, answering "no" to the question, "Have you ever been convicted of a domestic violence offense that involved the striking, kicking, shoving of another?" is the correct response, since (a) it is not a conviction, (b) it was not considered domestic violence, and © anyone who would look at the details of what happened would come to the conclusion that I was defending myself. Sooo, I have my answer now. Thank you everyone who took the time to respond.

My question though is, since it's not a "conviction" and not considered domestic violence where it was issued, would checking "yes" be the right thing to put...

What makes you say that Anselmo? It seems pretty clear in that link that I did

No, I did not go to trial or anything like that. The police just wrote it up on a pad, handed it to me and told me to not do it again.

I used to live in Pennsylvania up until about 3 years ago (Im now 21). When I was 18, I lived with my mother and her boyfriend. I got into a fight with my mother's boyfriend. We were arguing, he threw a knife at me, so I grabbed his wrist and twisted it, and then he punched me in the face. I called the police after that, and when they came, they cited us both for harassment. Now, in Pennsylvannia, harassment is considered a "summary offense", which is like a traffic ticket. You pay the fine, and then the record goes away. I've done a criminal background check on myself and have confirmed this, it does not show up. My problem, is this: On the firearm application, it asks, "Have you ever been convicted of a domestic violence offense that involves striking, kicking, or shoving, someone else?" This WAS someone who I lived with at the time, and it was a charge, but it does not show up in a background check, because it is considered a citation, and in Pennsylvannia, something is not officially a domestic violence incident unless there is injury. So what should I put on this NJ permit application? Yes or no?