Assuming I adhere to the NJ laws (ammo kept separately, handgun locked in trunk, etc...), can I pick up a friend (she also has a handgun and assume she follows law too) on the way to the range?

 

I would not park the car or get out. I would have to get off Rt 80 for 3 miles to pick her up, then get back on Rt 80 tong to range.

 

I checked 3 pages of posts and did not see this topic. Sorry if I missed it. Thank you.

maybe a little too worried about it.

I wouldn't worry about it

really?

IANAL...all IMO

 

Do you belong to an approved club? If yes, then my answer is 'maybe', I would argue that you would be OK, as you are "going to" a range and picking up your friend on the way. The statute here does not dictate how you get to the range, just that you are going to or from one. Your final destination is still the range. Ultimately the interpretation is up to you, as you are taking the risk. I'm just giving my opinion.

 

If no, you are bound to go "directly to and from" but are also able to have "reasonably necessary deviations". The trick is the "directly" portion, it kinda further constrains you to as what "reasonable" is. IMO, hard to argue you were going "directly" to the range from home and saying your friend's house 3mile detour was a "reasonably necessary deviation". "Directly" implies point A to B. So I would say if you don't belong to an approved club, then definately no.

 

Here's what you have to play with:

 

(1)A member of any rifle or pistol club organized in accordance with the rules prescribed by the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice, in going to or from a place of target practice, carrying such firearms as are necessary for said target practice, provided that the club has filed a copy of its charter with the superintendent and annually submits a list of its members to the superintendent and provided further that the firearms are carried in the manner specified in subsection g. of this section;

 

(b)Directly to or from any target range, or other authorized place for the purpose of practice, match, target, trap or skeet shooting exhibitions, provided in all cases that during the course of the travel all firearms are carried in the manner specified in subsection g. of this section and the person has complied with all the provisions and requirements of Title 23 of the Revised Statutes and any amendments thereto and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; or

 

g.All weapons being transported under paragraph (2) of subsection b., subsection e., or paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection f. of this section shall be carried unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported, and in the course of travel shall include only such deviations as are reasonably necessary under the circumstances.

I say go for it. If stopped.

1. Do not say anything
   
2. Do not consent to a search
   
3. Ask for a lawyer if necessary
   

While any sane person would say that picking someone else up to go to the range with you is a reasonably necessary deviation to the range there is a short supply of sane people in NJ. I do it all the time and will continue to do it as it is reasonable. What is unreasonable is the gun laws.

I am no longer a member at the club, which is open to the public. It seems like the consensus is don't worry, but don't get caught...hmm. If the range was close I would tell her to just meet me there, but that is not the case. Thanks for the replies.

in the eyes of the law, you are breaking it, would really depend on how far the police dept wants to push the issue

The fact that this is even asked is sickening.

 

At a certain point, its just not worth living your life in such fear...

The fact that this is even asked is sickening.

 

At a certain point, its just not worth living your life in such fear...

 

At a certain point it is just not worth living IN THIS STATE.

OMG I just want to protect my family and property and all the laws in NJ are so ridiculous.I should have moved down south to much to do for something we should be able to do without all the nonsense.

There are many different interpretations of the rule. But at the end of the day, in the event of a legal challenge the burden of proof is on YOU to prove that you are transporting in a manner consistent with the regulations and that the stop to pick up your friend was a "reasonable deviation." Normally one is innocent until proven guilty but unfortunately the opposite is true with respect to firearms in NJ.

 

Only you can decide how much risk you are willing to take.

Well, on the plus side, if anyone does get arrested and charged for this, maybe it would become high profile enough that the citizens who don't own guns would see just how inane the laws here in NJ are.

As LorenzoS indicates, the bottom line is anytime you are "discovered" with especially a handgun outside of exempted posession locations (home, range, etc), you are instantly open to arrest and prosecution. If the LEO just has a feeling that you are outside the law, they can arrest you and leave it to the Prosecutor to come up with charges in their evil NJ legal laboratory. They can argue that you were not going "directly" to the range, and picking up your friend was not "reasonably necessary" in going to the range to shoot your baby/cop/fuzzy bunny killing WMD of a handgun.

 

Think like some evil gun hating prosecutor, with the ambiguous, contradictory, and confusing NJ statutes as your weapons to convince a jury that you are a bad person deserving 5 years in jail....

Don't stop off for any crack, or carjack or driveby anyone and you should be alright.

Don't stop off for any crack, or carjack or driveby anyone and you should be alright.

 

Actually, it seems that as long as you stop off for crack or carjack or driveby you are ok, whereas Mr wellmeaning citizen gets intimate with the term BOHICA.

The fact that this is even asked is sickening.

 

At a certain point, its just not worth living your life in such fear...

 

I absolutely agree. How sad that we even need to discuss such things.

 

A friend of mine was going to RTSP the other day but stopped to drop his child at the Randolph YMCA, which is maybe 1 mile away. A similar thought occurred to this friend -- is this legal? Is this reasonably necessary under the circumstances? My friend then thought, "How ridiculous that I even have to worry about this."

I know I shouldn't say this but if you drive normal safe matter and not have gun stickers on the window by promoting your a gun owner you will be safe. I know the law says this and that but take the shot. I did Monday I was nervous but nothing happen. Plus I keep my stuff in a brief case, bookbag or my tool bag so everything looks normal if I did get pulled over.

You are at risk any time you are driving to the range. Driving back home there is proof of your destination. Driving to the range there is only your word. Are the police going to break out a Google map and directions to show a jury the most direct route and then compare that to the road you were arrested on as proof you were in violation of the law?

 

With these crazy NJ gun laws there is letter of the law vs intent of the law. The intent is not to stop you from buying gas, getting a McDonald's Happy meal at the drive through or picking up your friend on the way there.

This is so sad that we have to go through this.

This is so sad that we have to go through this.

 

Such is life in communist russia. ...I mean NJ.

Such is life in communist russia. ...I mean NJ.

 

I makes us safer. Criminals are running scared and have moved to other lenient states. Mayor Booker told me so.

well whatever you do, its now a public record!

I once stopped at the cheesequake rest area on the parkway on my way home from shore shot. I was there for about 35mins eating with my girlfriend. How is a cop suppose to know i have my gun with me. Didnt even cross my mind "what if...." funny thing is that there were about 4 cop cars there too.

Just a couple of quick thoughts, It does suck,we could worry about it, we could move,we can try to change it.

 

"In jersey everything is legal,as long as you don't get caught"

 

"Ill eagle" is a sick bird , Unlawful can get you jail time.

This is so sad that we have to go through this.

 

No ,Knowing we have a problem is the first step in recovery

Depends what your friend looks like

Depends what your friend looks like

And would conjugal visits be on the table if things goes bad.

Carpooling to the range with a friend would be a reasonable stop.

With gas close to 4 bucks a gallon, carpooling to the range with a friend is a necessary stop.