A New Jersey firearm bill of sale is a document that is used as proof of purchase for the transaction of a firearm between a buyer and a seller. Unless a weapon is being transferred between immediate family members, law enforcement, or licensed collectors, private sales must be conducted through a licensed vendor. To buy firearms in the state, individuals are legally required to have a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card and, if buying a handgun, a Handgun Purchase Permit. A background check is completed before an individual receives their Firearms Purchaser I.D. card, so the state-mandated background check is fulfilled when the buyer presents their card. The minimum age for individuals to purchase and possess rifles or shotguns is eighteen (18), whereas residents must be twenty-one (21) before they can own a handgun.

Concealed Carry Laws

Statute – § 2C:58-4

New Jersey law requires that individuals have a state permit to legally carry a concealed handgun. Out-of-state concealed carry permits are not accepted. Residents can apply for a Permit to Carry a Handgun (PCH) by following the steps below.

1. Complete an Application for Permit to Carry a Handgun (PCH).
2. Make three (3) copies of the document and have them notarized.
3. Complete the Consent for Mental Health Search form.
4. Obtain a certificate of completion from a handgun safety course.
5. Submit all copies of the application, the consent form, the certificate of completion, and four (4) passport-sized color photos of the applicant to the Chief of Police for their municipality.
6. Pay the application fee of $50, which must be paid by money order (see application).