Wednesday, July 26, 2023

New Jersey's Latest Firearms Permit Training Requirement

 


New laws regarding handgun permits in New Jersey now require shooting skills comparable to that of the police, leading to a debate about their relevance to civilian self-defense.

Opponents of the law argue that it is unfair towards the physically disabled and infringes on the rights protected by the Second Amendment, drawing parallels with historic voting rights violations.

The recently introduced training regimen for firearm handling and storage is viewed as excessively limiting, akin to requiring NASCAR racing skills to obtain a driver's license.

New Jersey's new legislation introduces a considerably more challenging shooting proficiency requirement for individuals wishing to acquire or maintain their state-granted handgun carry permits.

The updated prerequisites necessitate timed shooting from concealed positions. Incorporation of kneeling position firing and accurate targeting at 25 yards also feature in the new curriculum. It seems tough to imagine situations necessitating lethal force at such a distance in civilian self-defense. Notably, the legislation makes no accommodations for the physically impaired. Essentially, these rules are almost identical to those required for retired law enforcement officers to obtain their New Jersey RPO handgun carry card.

This implies that any citizen desiring to exercise their Second Amendment rights must demonstrate a level of proficiency equivalent to a seasoned law enforcement officer who has undergone extensive firearm training!

Should one require NASCAR-level driving skills to obtain a driving license? Yet, unlike driving, bearing arms is a constitutional right. Unduly stringent conditions shouldn't be imposed on the exercise of constitutional rights. New Jersey is employing a strategy similar to the discriminatory practices of Southern Democrats who sought to restrict black citizens from voting through poll taxes and literacy tests. The anti-Constitutional rights NJ Democrats have replicated this approach in obstructing the Second Amendment rights of all citizens with the passage of the Murphy "Carry Killer" Anti-Civil Rights law.

By July 1, 2023, the Superintendent of State Police was tasked with developing training requirements for the legal and safe handling and storage of firearms comprising (1) an online course, (2) in-person classroom instruction, and (3) range training by a certified firearms instructor at authorized ranges listed on the State Police website.

The Superintendent of State Police failed to accomplish this by the July 1, 2023, deadline. Instead, on July 17, 2023, they published the "Use of Force Interim Training For Private Citizens Concealed Carry."

Additionally, the State Police issued an online "Firearms Identification Card Safety & Awareness Interim Training." Despite its intended use for Carry Permits, the State Police didn't proofread the presentation and titled it incorrectly. This showcases the rushed and poorly executed attempt to adhere to the legislation.

The necessary proficiency level to fulfill the training requirements are as follows: qualification on a course of fire similar to HQC2 (modified), as outlined in the Private Citizen Concealed Carry Use of Force Training manual, using at least 50 rounds and achieving a minimum score of 80%. This is confirmed by the  State Police "New Jersey Permit To Carry Safe Handling And Proficiency In The Use Of Handguns Certification."

This form must be completed by October 1, 2023, for existing Permit to Carry a Handgun holders and all new applicants.

The course of fire (HQC2 (modified) and Use of Force Training manual can be found at the provided link.

According to N.J.S. 2C:58-4a., a single permit suffices for all handguns owned by the permit holder. Previously, many judges wrongly limited permits to specific guns the permit holder could carry. This issue has now been rectified. To carry any handgun a permit holder owns, they simply submit a form to the issuing authority (Chief or Superintendent) listing the guns intended to be carried.

Those who currently hold a Permit to Carry a Handgun MUST REQUALIFY BY OCTOBER 1, 2023.

Those who obtained a NJ Permit to Carry a Handgun and whose permit does not expire before December 22, 2023, must comply with the new training requirements by October 1, 2023.

This does not apply to those who obtained a NJ Permit to Carry a Handgun after July 1, 2023, except when renewing such permits. They will need to meet the new training requirements, if not previously completed. New applicants must, of course, meet the new training requirements.

For those whose permit was issued before 12/22/21 and typically expires within 2 years, their permit will expire before 12/22/23. They don't have to comply before October 1, 2023, but will need to comply upon renewal. NJ Permit to Carry a Handgun applications submitted before 12/22/22 were all judge-issued, and occasionally, a judge may have required an individual's permit to expire or renew earlier. This usually occurs when the permit holder is elderly or infirm.

Please note that there's been rampant misinformation alleging that Permits to Carry a Handgun granted before December 22, 2022, are universally exempt. This is not true.

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