HBecwithFn7

Is there, currently, a viable GOP alternative? If so, let's pony him/her up quickly!

It just depends on where you need to travel and carry. There's really only a minor difference between the two in terms of which states are covered, mostly out west. I have both, plus AZ. In fact, I got all three at once. There's a place is South Jersey (Salem County) that teaches this course. Look at this course - Shooters On Target... Multi State Course. I took this, and got FL, AZ, and UT all in one day. And they do include live fire for FL, (BYOG & A). If you want to see what states are covered by which permit, look at this map in USACarry.com - Concealed Carry Maps... Good luck.

Nothing for us, here in Tampa Bay. Total cloud cover.

We'll see. This morning, it was overcast. Couldn't see a thing. Up at 6:40a tomorrow.

I can see the moon through the clouds here in Tampa Bay, but it doesn't appear to be any larger... brighter, yes, but not larger.

What does the "NF" mean on NJ License Plates? Wikipedia - Vehicle Registration Plates of New Jersey... http://www.nj.gov/mvc/Commercial/pvt.htm So, perhaps they have changed recently but, originally, they did mean "No Fee."

Well, I don't know what it takes to get NF plates, these days, nor do I know if toll road authorities still honor them.... Times are getting a lot tougher, now.

^^^^^^^ This!

Well, other municipal vehicles use the "MG/MU" tags. Fire and EMS apparatus that are purchased by a municipality can use those tags. Most volunteer EMS units in NJ use "NFx-nnn" plates which means "No Fee..." meaning they can zip through things like GSP toll plazas, etc.

No, I agree that the I-78 route would not work from Carney's Point. Much better to go down the 301 route in that case. The reason why the I-78 works well for me is that the last of my family that lives in NJ (and the only reason to visit it these days) lives in Hunterdon County. Perfect for I-78. I would simply stay in the Allentown PA area with my "inventory," which will never see NJ soil again... never!

The NJSP started doing this, several years ago. Both the marked and unmarked cars used to have "SPx-nnn" (or if out of Troop D on the NJ Turnpike then "TPx-nnn"). But I think, now, they all use the std. letter/number combinations. It was one of the ways we could figure out an unmarked car was a Trooper crusier. That and the black wall tires, the "half moon" silver hubs, and the driver in the blue shirt...

2 addl.hours? Really? I've done both routes many, many times. Just to be clear, we are talking about Carney's Point right near the Del. Memorial Bridge, right? Here is the Google Maps routing for the complete travel down I-95, from the Del. Memorial Bridge to Exit 163 in Lorton, VA (which, as it turns out, is the End Terminus for the Auto Train). Here is the Map for the same two destinations, going down the Eastern Shore, via US 301. As you can see, the difference is only 9 miles and 14 minutes.... Traffic being equal. And there is, usually, much less traffic going down the US 301 Eastern Shore Route, prior to the US-50 merge. Not only do you avoid the Baltimore Harbour tunnel area, but you also avoid the traffic around Washington DC itself.

I always took 2 days. I overnight-ed, usually in Richburg, SC, just south of the border. As for Carney's Point, then I would do what I mentioned above, and take US-301 down the Eastern Shore to the Bay Bridge, and across US 50W to the Cap. Beltway, and then down I-95 from there.

Within a certain time frame, the tickets are refundable, less a $100.00 penalty. I incurred that when I canceled the last trip I would have taken with them. But I don't think you can do that within like 48 or 72 hours prior to the travel date.

I am right handed, left eye dominant. Sometimes, I shoot my long guns "leftie." So I just have to be careful with ejecting brass or shell casings.

That policy applies only to trains that have a baggage car with a secure steel cage (where they keep firearms that are checked in). The Auto Train does not have a baggage car because the expectation is that it would not be needed... i.e. people would use their cars for "baggage storage." To put a baggage car on the Auto Train would be too costly to do only for folks that want to check in firearms. And you can't store them in your car because that's not considered "secure." While the container cars are locked during travel, the conductor would still have a key, and the car handlers would, of course, still have access to what's inside the cars. Which brings up a good point about the Auto Train. Make sure you can turn off your alarm, especially if it's passive. The vibrations would set it off, continuously, and the last thing you want to have happen is for your battery to run out and block other cars from getting off the container cars. When you check in your car, they walk around taking video of the car's condition.The assign you a number on a magnetic plate that they stick on the drivers door. Remember that number! Then they put seat /wheel/floor covers on the drivers side, and they leave the driver window open in case the car locks from the inside. This, because they also leave the keys inside the car. Check in time is also when the Amtrak Police send the dog around the car for a quick sniff. They only sniff the outside perimeter. As long as the dog doesn't alert, you're good to go. On occaision, they will also bring the same dog inside the terminal to sniff around a bit as well. I believe they are alerting on explosives, more than drugs, etc. So if you carry a lot of powder, etc. or reloads, or whatever, be sure to clean that thoroughly before you bring it down there.

Precisely. I think there is, now, a plausible chance that the legislation can pass and be signed into law, federally. What the states do with it, and how the federal govt. can enforce the new law upon the states, is a different matter. First, we will have to ensure we have a majority in SCOTUS before the cases start winding through the system. Next, as stated earlier, there will have to be some kind of "incentive" to elicit compliance from the states. E.G., tie some of this new "infrastructure" funding being contemplated to compliance with the law... just like before, when federal highway funding was tied to rasing the drinking age to 21 for all states.

I think they would call, not write. They would write the personal references because there's a standard form that is sent out. As for whom to put down, that's your call. Unless you trust your immediate supervisor with that knowledge, then the safest bet is to have them call HR (as stated above) where they can only give out so much info.

Depends on the municipality (or NJSP barracks). They might. If they're an "anti-gun" municipality, they might do all of that and tell your employer why they are asking. I suspect that most municipalities probably would not, but this is not guaranteed. I solved that problem by putting my own business entity in that info. So, if they were to call, they'd be calling me anyway. I was once told that the original intent of asking was only to ensure the candidate is gainfully employed and is not having "financial difficulties" (and, thus, might potentially use the gun for armed robbery, etc.). Not sure about that, but...

Precisely. Read this Washington Times Article on John Fillippidis. Now, what the MCAC has in re: FL plates might be old info, because FL 's concealed carry records are now protected by law and cannot be accessed in bulk like that. So, if your FL CWFL was more recent, MCAC may not have it. Still, one should simply avoid that area altogether. They do use ALPR cameras on all the tunnels. Those are critical assets. A terrorist attack would be devastating and cost a tremendous amount of $$$ to repair/replace. A bridge would also be costly, but not as much...

Make absolutely sure they know you are referring to the "Auto Train" and not any other long distance train, on which firearms may be transported if properly checked in. There is, actually, a dedicated customer service unit for the Auto Train (1-877-SKIP-I95). Call that number for confirmation.

Precisely what I did when I left NJ. Once they were out of NJ, I was covered under FOPA, until I arrived in FL. Also, I drove a precise route to avoid traveling through the Baltimore Tunnel area. I would avoid that area at all costs. My Route: I-78 W all the way through Harrisburg PA I-81 S, all the way through to VA. Minimizes travel through MD to about 10 minutes in Hagerstown. I-77 S, through VA, NC and SC, ending near Columbia SC. I-26 E towards Charleston I-95 South to GA & FL. If you must travel down the I-95 Corridor from NJ, etc. , then, at least, travel down US 301 along the Eastern Shore and across the Bay Bridge to US-50 W, and then pick up the Capital Beltway (I-495). You can then enter VA by crossing the Potomac and get onto I-95 from there. It avoids the tunnels and DC itself.

I think they'd find some way around it. Either that, or they'll just blatantly ignore it, believing that no one would dare challenge them in federal court. They might also attempt a challenge to the law, claiming "State's Rights." These legislators have been at this a long time. They aren't going to give up that easily. The only thing that might get their attention is if the Feds tied federal funding for various projects to compliance with the federal law. It's how they got all the states to raise their drinking ages to 21 - tying federal highway funds to that.

Are you sure that firearms are allowed on the Auto Train? The last few times I rode the Auto Train, I was told they are prohibited because the Auto Train doesn't have a baggage car with a secure cage in which to store the check in firearms. They do have such a car on other long distance trains. And you are not permitted to keep them in the vehicle you are transporting, either. I'd double check that if I were you. If they are permitted now, then that's a significant change to their operation and must have happened within the last two years. Otherwise, you may be in for quite the surprise (and a very bad day) when their search dogs alert on your car. ETA: I just called the Auto Train Div. And I was told firearms are *still* prohibited aboard the Auto Train!!! Please double check again!!!

And, even if National Reciprocity were to happen, do you think that would stop the Sweeneys and Weinbergs of the PRNJ? They would find legal loopholes and execute them, in the name of States Rights, etc...