You can bring a handgun into NJ if you were a legal owner in another state and move into NJ bringing it with you, without registration. That does not seem to be the case here though.
For your son to have it transferred from a FFL to himself, which will be what you need to do (no personal sales or transfers across state lines, as per federal law), he needs to take two steps:
(1): Apply for a receive a NJ State Firearms Identification Card (FID). This process is fairly simple to do, but takes "as long as the local police chief says it's takes". Basically it's a form, a mental health records release, and a fingerprint card. hand it over with the proper fee and wait 4-40 weeks. Generally these take about 2-3 months to get. They are good for life and allow two things: Purchase and Posession of long-arms, and are a prerequiste for applying for a Purchase Permit for a Handgun.
(2): For the handgun purchase permit, he basically fills out an identical set of paperwork, waits the same length of time, and (finally) gets a form that allows the purchase of ONE handgun in the next 90 days. Use it or lose it. This is then taken to the FFL (or private party) and a transfer can be concluded.
When he applies for the FID he can also apply for his first handgun permit, and both will be issued at the same time when they are done.
He needs in the meanwhile to have made arrangements for a FFL dealer to accept the gun from you, and to then do the transfer to your son. Most dealers do this for about $50 in NJ. You will likely need to have a FFL in your state send it to the NJ dealer: although this is not legally required, many FFL's will not accept an incoming firearm from an individual, and this is their right.
Notes:
Handguns are rationed one every 30 days in NJ.
Transportation requirements are VERY strict in NJ. He really does need to study the laws there.
MANY folks who grew up in firearms-friendly places have no "guilty concience" regarding guns, and do not "code-shift" when in NJ. What might be common elesewhere as a every day part of life (like leaving a half shot box of .22 hollowpoints in your glovebox after a day of rabbit hunting) can be a felony in NJ. If he's from your fine state, he will need to REALLY pay attention to his new legal environment.
I lived there as a firearms enthusaist for over 40 years, and it was always a burden. Gone now.
Willie
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