mikka1

My friend's Amex has been compromised lately. Someone actually purchased gas and booze in Carolina :-) Amex took care of it and he was not held liable (say big thanks to zero liability policy). The main problem is that until banks in the US start to introduce EMV chips en-masse, this will most likely keep happening. BTW, have you used your card in Target and/or Neiman Marcus? Might still be from that huge leak... I guess you won't notice such a device in waiter's hand while in restaurant, will you? :-) http://www.ebay.com/itm/270750357419

(From GrabAGun promo emails) Seems to be a Good price on P30S, all others sell it starting $800+, Buds sells it at $840 or so. $750 + $6 shipping seems to be very tempting. If only I had permits in hand... Heckler and Koch P30S V3 9mm DA/SA 15+1 Safety HK P30 Semi-automatic SA-DA Full 9MM 3.85 Polymer Black 15Rd 2 Mags Fired Case Safety and Ambi Decocker 3 Dot M730903S-A5 http://grabagun.com/catalog/product/view/id/88047

I would say www.city-data.com might be a good place to ask this - it helped a couple of my friends to settle in decent neighborhoods across the country instead of falling into holes.

Just as a heads-up for those living not far from Easton, PA - Heritage Guild often has boxes of 525 22lr Winchester HPs for ~$29 with taxes or 333 22lr Winchester HPs for around $20. I am not aware of any explicit limit there, but I think if you buy 2-3 boxes, that'll not make them too unhappy. I was there on Saturday and picked up one, and there was plenty in stock left.

I would similarly say - don't overestimate the importance of a phone apology from a random person with a company of millions of employees. I hope I'm wrong, but this apology will most likely not prevent you from being kicked out for OC from the very same store a week later let alone from the neighboring store that would never even hear about your frustration and "corrective actions" "taken" by Wally corporate.

RS1200XL, thanks a lot, very detailed, that's exactly what I needed to know. Hope it will not be cancelled due to weather.

Well, if it matters, I have recently contacted Walmart corporate about their PA stores not selling firearms to NJ residents. I got no answer from them yet (and I doubt I will, frankly), but what surprised me most was that Walmarts in NC actually have a MAP showing states they can and can not legally sell firearms. And guess what - NJ is marked as "OK to sell". I asked people at the counter in 2 different stores over there and both told me there were no issues selling to NJ residents. Go figure. But the whole thing here is most likely useless as IN FACT individual person almost never has enough power to fight or even slightly move/turn a huge corporate machine. I can really only vote with my feet and my money taken elsewhere, but regardless of how sad it might be, that's pretty much that I and most of other people can do.

I've always wanted to try USPSA (well, at least from the moment I got my FID :-)), so just a couple of questions from a complete nooooob: 1) Is this match a noob-friendly? I mean, I know where the barrel end of a handgun is, how to load it and discharge and where not to aim, but I still feel uncomfortable with all those "minor/major factors", "production vs other classes" etc stuff? I clearly don't want to start with a world championship and become a hassle for everyone. So, is this match a good place to start with? 2) Do I need to be a USPSA member to participate? If yes, what do I need to do to become a member? Any specific classes/qualifications? 3) What are the minimum requirements in terms of gear? Speed of unholstering etc. is definitely NOT of my concern yet, but I'd better know what I should minimally have to take part in such a match. Right now I have: Sturdy belt, eyes/ear protection; Glock 19 with 4 mags, Fobus paddle holster (quite cheap and not really good, I think), 2 mag pouches (so no pouch for 1 spare mag) or CZ75 SP-01 with only 2 mags, Bladetech holster and no mag pouches I think 2 mags is not enough, right? So if I go, I'd better either stick with Glock, or buy more mags for CZ? 4) Ammo - I have mostly 9mm 115gr Federal / Remington UMC / Winchester (white box) - will it work, or should I look for some specific ammo? 5) Any other specific considerations / things to read / watch? Thanks a lot in advance and hope answers will help not only me :-)

Fair point. So, just to try to stop some shitload already aimed at me, I do understand the "mechanics" of this issue, I can certainly understand the way of their thinking, but with my personal ideas of how things should really work in life (largely inspired by certain consumer protection laws in Europe), I wholeheartedly disagree with such a practice and consider it wrong, counter-intuitive and violating founding principles of retail trade. In my view (actually supported by many laws and status quo in different jurisdictions) the moment retailer puts a price tag on some merchandise, he/she declares his/her intent to transfer this merchandise: a) to whoever is ready to pay the agreed amount with agreed payment method, and b) to whoever is not explicitly prohibited from obtaining such an item by any federal, state, local, municipal (town/city/other subdivision etc), international laws & regulations at the time of purchase. Clearly it's my problem :-) I might be wrong. You may disagree with me. The fact someone disagrees with this may or may not mean it is wrong :-) After almost 5 years in the US I, for example, still consider retailers' practice indicating prices without applicable sales tax as equally counter-intuitive and even misleading. To my surprise, most of the authorities in different countries fully agree with my point (even not knowing about it, LOL) and mandate price on a tag in any given retail store to be actually "a full and final price to be paid by a customer", period. To my even bigger surprise, here in the States US DOT came to a similar conclusion not a long ago (in January 2012, actually) and ended practice of many airlines indicating prices without taxes and fees. I see it as a very positive change that simply makes lives of people easier, just that. Sorry for providing so many examples from transportation / travel industry, that's just what I understand relatively well. I hope that clarifies my way of thinking (even if you think it is wrong) and hope I have not insulted or annoyed anyone :-). I think we are all already quite far off topic :-)

I understand the benefits part, thanks. Given that my local PD (in an almost ~50k population town) does not even ask me for my ID and recognize my face when I enter the building to inquire about permits, I bet market sizing exercise on firearms in NJ will show pretty disappointing results. Considering the "risk" part - what I was looking for was a specific justification for what certain businesses consider to be a "risk" in this equation / analysis. So far I am not aware of any action taken by NJ authorities (but I have to admit I am not closely following all new initiatives on that) that would assume that the next step would be a lawsuit or anything else similar for the seller, that's it. Apparently nobody is aware as well, or even if someone is aware of something, he/she will not tell about it here. (lots of text below, sorry) Vlad actually mentioned a very good thing about "forming ideas" and then looking at the world through certain understanding of how things work. Let me just give you one example (absolutely not related to firearms world and even to US law) of what I encountered professionally at some point recently and you will tell me what you think about it. When a person is traveling internationally by air, especially to countries and for nationals with complicated entry requirements (visa, possible overstay issues etc.) there is actually a two-step process for determining if a person can even board a flight to a foreign country: 1) A person comes to a check-in desk at the departing airport with his/her travel documents. Airline officer checks all documents presented by a passenger and makes a decision if a person can actually board an aircraft today. This decision is based on the fact if a passenger has a right to enter his destination country. Most of the time it can be simple (an EU national coming to one of EU countries from the US - clearly he will be admitted home etc.), but there might be some complicated cases (e.g. Ukrainian national flying from New York to London, UK without British visa for transit purposes). There is a database called Timatic that is accessible by airline officers and that basically gives information for all possible combinations of citizenship /residence, destination, port of departure etc. In most cases if Timatic says "YES", a person will be allowed to board a plane. 2) Nonetheless most (if not all) countries reserve the right to deny entry to any foreigner (many even without explanation). They have a clear right to do so even if a person has all necessary documents. Things like that are relatively rare and hard to predict. The issue here is that the airline is responsible for sending this unlucky guy/gal to his departure point on the next flight back. It can theoretically cost a lot to an airline (practically - one seat in the aircraft and potential overbooking compensation to someone if that particular flight is overbooked) So, just to make it perfectly clear: 1) Airline - formal control if travel documents are OK and in line with requirements listed in Timatic. If OK - board the plane. If not okay - bye-bye, see you next time, you are not flying today. 2) Immigration officials at the point of entry - final check, admitting a person to the country or denying entry. And here comes an interesting part - some airlines in Europe recently attempted to start passenger PROFILING based on common attributes, like: if you are a Russian national female, flying alone to, let's say, Germany, with a that and that type of a visa (that actually ALLOWS (!!) you to enter Germany), you will most likely be denied boarding and service by the airline. Why? Because last year there were, let's say, 15 cases of passengers denied entry in Berlin and Frankfurt and most of those passenger fit this profile. I'll probably stop here. What is your opinion on this example? Do you think airlines violate anything (I am not asking "violate legally" as there were even several airlines in different jurisdictions doing similar things) or do you think everything was OK and following common sense?

Thanks everyone! It was very nice to get to know you all :-) And thanks for letting me try most of the shotguns - I've never even thought about semi-auto shotgun until today, but now I feel that I desperately NEED it, LOL https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bw6F_lixLItNZ24zZHhzQlRpQlk&usp=sharing Here are some photos from today - don't really know, how to upload them differently - I think inserting them to this post will make it too heavy...

1) Is there any case known and documented when the State of NJ or any other NJ authority sued an online firearms retailer for shipping some LEGAL IN NJ item to NJ FFL? I heard something like that happened with the State of NY, but I've never heard about NJ authorities doing this. 2) Were there at least any legal threats from whatever NJ authority sent to any online firearms retailer for doing LEGAL things? I suspect they might send a warning if, for example, retailer starts to send hi-cap mags to NJ customers i.e. breaking the law. I have never heard of neither. If I am wrong, I'll be happy to know about that :-)

And how "dealing with NJ dealers" is really different from "dealing with MN dealers" or "dealing with NC dealers"? I am not trying to catch anyone on what's said, I seriously don't know, that's why I'm asking. I though for them it's only a matter of "check if the party they send something to has FFL" - "send it out - receiving FFL will do the rest" regardless of what state it is headed to. In the bad case scenario they will just get the item shipped back to them from FFL if it is not in compliance with some local laws etc. IANAL, but I'd say it can be negotiated with a customer in advance that if something like that happens, he will be refunded net of any shipping/handling fees. What's really the big deal for them to work with NJ FFLs?

^^^^^^^ THIS. Go with Asus. IMO, best advice here. I suffered with lots of cheapos like DLink, Netgear, Zyxel etc - no comparison with Asus at all I'd even say go with RT-N16 if you want to save a bit. It is quite old, but proven and VERY reliable. I have one at my parents' place for several years already. I just put it somewhere, set it up and forgot where it was. When I needed to hook it up with a wireless USB data stick it was also extremely easy, especially with a custom (not original) firmware. 3 PCs, 3 laptops, dozen of other devices (iPods, tablets, VoIP adapters, network printer, NAS etc) - all work just great with very high upload/download speeds between devices.

I can only kindly ask you TO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE NOT DO THIS again :-) (at least with that wording I highlighted above). I am not even going to have a long discussion around this. There are so many stores out there (with AimSurplus as probably the widest known example) that are overcautious and do not sell some items to NJ residents even if it is perfectly legal just to be on a safe and even safer than safe side. I REALLY like PSA so far and REALLY don't want them to follow suit and impose any unnecessary restrictions on sales to NJ. Please, don't push them to do so and give them hints, LOL. I perfectly understand your rationale to ship it to FFL even from a pure logistics standpoint, but PLEASE don't use such a wording and explain it as you explained it above. Just tell them that you want some customization of your new upper to be done by your gunsmith / FFL and don't want to waste your time on going back and forth to the FFL as this would cost you more than just paying extra $7-10 for shipping it separately. Thanks

99% I'll come tomorrow as I am back to NJ. I have some 12GA birdshot shells, but I don't have a shotgun yet or clays, thrower or whatever else :-) To add to this I've never seen anyone from this forum IRL, LOL. Is it hard to find you there when I come? Thanks

(initially from Slickguns, but thought it deserves to be posted here) http://grabagun.com/dpms-panther-oracle-223-16-30rd.html $550 + $6 s/h and later http://www.dpmsinc.com/DPMS-Promotions_ep_211-1.html $50 rebate Seems like a hell of a bargain, especially for our fellas across the river. I only remember it once lately (when I actually bought my S&W MP15 Sport) when ARs were going for ~$550 shipped. This one seems to also have forward assist (MP15 Sport doesn't) but has no rear sight (MP15 Sport does). Other places sell it starting ~$600 ($550 after MIR) There's also a trick to get free s/h with GrabAGun- just place any item to your cart and forget about it for 3-4 days - you'll then get a coupon for free shipping to motivate you to buy what was in your cart, LOL. Not sure though if such a trick works here, as I don't think it will last long enough. I am no specialist in ARs let alone in DPMS, but if I was in a free state now, I'd order it right away. I think only a build from PSA/PTAC parts MIGHT get you to the lower price, but no other factory made AR is sold for that low now (I can be wrong obviously)

+1 to all above, several boxes of 9mm PPU through Glock and CZ, not a single misfire or other issue. I was also quite skeptical about it when I first saw in in Walmart and bought mostly to try it out.

Most of the packages I receive are delivered either by UPS or Fedex or sometimes even Lasership (has never heard about it before I actually got a package from Amazon delivered by it). Nonetheless I had 3 (three!) disappeared packages over the last year (out of ~60-70+). Guess what - all of those 3 were sent using USPS and were marked as delivered in a tracking system... Yes, I admit that they have most likely been stolen by my neighbors (that's why I demanded my management company to install a surveillance system in our building), but... 3 out of 3 by USPS. Maybe thieves are so picky in terms of packages from what carrier to steal, LOL...

Very good price if you want this here and now, IMO. I bought mine online right after Black Friday off Sportsman Outdoors Superstore for $555 with free shipping. After adding transfer fee and subtracting extra 5% cash-back from the credit card it came roughly to the same price...

Just an idea that was in the air for me for quite some time (but I am not sure you will have either willingness or ability to try to change anything) - everyone knows that many online stores don't sell random stuff to NJ residents. Good stores explain this (or at least try to explain) by vague legislative practices in restrictive states and at least are more or less open for a dialogue (remember recent example of a topic raised by remixer on AimSurplus and attempts to help them to obtain some clarification from NJ officials). Nonetheless there are stores out there that just outright lie on their websites. The most recent example I ran into was Gander Mountain. If you try to look up any handgun caliber ammo, you'll get the following warning: Local and/or state laws prohibit the shipment of handgun ammunition to AK, CT, DC, HI, MA, NJ, Chicago IL, Cincinnati OH, Los Angeles CA, Oakland CA, and San Francisco CA. IANAL, but as far as I know it's pure and unprecedented lie that can potentially confuse people and make them think that all other stores shipping ammo to NJ are breaking the law which in fact is not true!!! Again, I don't work at the AG office, but to the best of my knowledge, unlike some other localities mentioned, NJ simply DOES NOT have a law / regulation or whatever they could call it either on state or any local level that would prohibit online stores to ship ammo to NJ. I would be much more comfortable seeing a warning: "According to our policy we do not ship to NJ" instead of lying to people and referring to some unicorn laws. On the other hand, this would most likely not change anything anyway, as Krdshrk correctly mentioned...

I actually came to several gun stores and told a person at the counter upfront that I was NOT going to buy any firearms that day, because ... (my permits are not ready, OGAM has not passed, I'm without a car that day etc). This has never caused any troubles and everyone was always very helpful. I even remember telling a guy at HG Easton that I would be unable to buy handguns in PA anyway - this hasn't stopped him from a nice chat with me and showing me (and giving to handle) some of the handguns. People is key IMO. I suppose it is quite clear - say NO to handling firearms by a person today, he will NOT come back when he decides to buy. No surprises here, I think.

I'm not sure I fully understand the point especially with mags. I still haven't clearly understood what "possession" means, at least in the interpretation of NY law. So, given you call someone seeing a person with mags "a snitchy resident", I guess it IS illegal to go through NYC with 15-rd mags being in transit? (I mean, it is still quite a big gap between "outright illegal" and "legal, but still might get you into trouble"...)

This is just a hypothetical question came to my mind before my next weekend trip to NC. I really like to go to different gun stores everywhere if I have a chance to. If I'm driving things are somewhat easier than when I fly, but there is still a question. I know that FOPA (at least in theory) protects firearm owners if they travel with firearms from one place to another cross-state and several conditions are met (if I remember it right: 1) legal where you start 2) legal where you head to 3) unloaded cased in the trunk). That is clear for firearms. How about firearm related things that are not firearms themselves? Scenario 1: I am NJ resident, I go to a gun shop in GA. There is a Glock promo with 50% off all magazines. I buy a dozen of 15-rounders for my Glock 19 (legal there, legal in NJ), pack them in my bag and fly from Atlanta home... well, not really home, but to LGA which is in the state of New York where magazines of more than 10 rounds are prohibited... Am I also protected by FOPA transporting magazines or am I committing a crime? Scenario 2: I am NJ resident, go to Vermont. While doing some shopping in Vermont I run into a decent selection of cheap and good handgun ammo and buy 500 rounds of 9mm. I have no firearms on me. On my way back to NJ I go through NY where, as far as I know, handgun ammo can be possessed only by those who has a NY permit and a pistol of that specific caliber. I clearly don't have NY permit. Am I also protected by FOPA here or am I again a vicious criminal? (and yes, I know that being cautious it would be better to stop at UPS/Fedex location (or even USPS for mags) and send them home, but I really want to know if I am actually breaking any laws by doing so in this hypothetical scenario)

If you are stopped somewhere and asked where you were going wouldn't the answer "I am going to Woodland Park (Randolph, Easton or even Pennsylvania... depending where the range is)" fly? I'd say even in a bad scenario would be hard to prove you intended to lie. I have been actually pulled over only once for "improper use of a cellphone" on GSP but I can't remember NJSP trooper to be extremely interested in where I was going. He was so happy to spot someone using the phone while driving so he seemed to be interested in nothing else...