NJ CCW petition

Whether or not online petitions exert much sway is questionable. That said, some of the provisions in A-1493 give me pause.

A crime involving controlled substances; a condition involving chronic and habitual alcoholic or drug abuse; or some other physical or mental condition or disease which would make it unsafe for the individual to obtain a permit to carry a handgun.
A "crime involving controlled substances" could mean something serious, or it could mean getting busted with a joint outside a concert in 1978. It's too broad. So is the restriction on "other physical (...) condition." Who decides what constitutes that? Does it mean poor eyesight? Tremors? Epilepsy?

Furthermore, one of the requirements in 2C:58-3 is that the applicant be a "person of good character and good repute in the community in which he lives." Again, I wonder how that's established and how broadly it could be used.
 
Based on being a citizen of the Garden State for most of my life: The petition process will have zero affect on the legislature of NJ. It's a waste of time and effort.

The political lines in NJ, like those in most strongly anti 2nd states, are drawn out in concrete. There is no will by the legislature to change the status quo. If it does not improve chances of re-election, there is no carrot for the voters who count, and those are the voters seated in Trenton. You will not change the mind of a state representative who has earned a F by the NRA for his voting record with a petition. Why waste the time?

A better avenue would be to simply bring a lawsuit against the state using arguments similar to those used in Illinois and Hawaii. They will be lost in NJ, but at least would let the appeal process proceed.

Willie

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