The short version of this story is that back in October of 2016, a Roselle Park security guard applied for a permit to carry concealed in his professional capacity. The police chief initially approved his request but later in February of 2017, a judge denied it without granting him a hearing.
The guard appealed and his case made it to the New Jersey Supreme Court which agreed to hear the case in March of 2019. The Court unanimously ruled this past January 28 that concealed carry permit applicants must be provided hearings within 30 days if they are denied a permit.
This is certainly a bit of good news coming out of one of the most anti-gun states in America. No, it doesn’t overturn New Jersey’s may issue laws but it does give Jersey residents another shot at obtaining carry permit. How many denials will be overturned at these hearings remains to be seen. After all it’s still difficult to get permission to even purchase a handgun in this state let alone get a carry permit for it but perhaps if enough residents demand their hearings this could put enough of a burden on the courts to cause them to send a signal downstream to the local sheriffs to lighten up a bit and approve more permits.
It’s a small victory but you have to take them when you can get them. If you live in Jersey, maybe you should consider another go at your concealed carry permit?
