Look, I've been in this business long enough to know that when the state says things are 'getting better,' what they really mean is they're finding new ways to drag their feet on our constitutional rights.
New Jersey just released some new numbers on permit-to-carry wait times, and while the Garden State is touting progress, let me tell you what's really going on.
The average wait time for a carry permit is now around 40 days. That's down from 2024, sure. But here's the kicker - we've got instant background checks in 2024. We have the technology to process these applications in hours, not weeks. And yet, 93% of applicants are still waiting SEVEN OR MORE DAYS for a decision. That's ridiculous.
Out of nearly 83,000 applications processed between 2024 and mid-2026, over 8% waited more than 90 days. And get this - nearly half of those unlucky folks ended up waiting past the 120-day legal limit. One poor soul filed in August 2022 and didn't get approved until nearly THREE YEARS later. That's 824 days of waiting for your fundamental right to self-defense. Another applicant waited 1,109 days. Over three years!
The worst part? New Jersey already requires you to have a firearms purchaser ID card before you can even apply for a carry permit. These folks are already vetted! The same background checks were run twice. There's zero justification for these delays.
The Bruen decision made it clear that these kinds of abusive delays are unconstitutional. But states like New Jersey are still playing games, making us jump through hoops and beg for a right that's supposed to be guaranteed.
Here's the bottom line: if you've got a clean background and you're already licensed to own a firearm, you should be able to carry that firearm for self-defense the same day you apply. Anything less is a failure. New Jersey needs to get with the program or get sued.
If you're a New Jersey resident dealing with this mess, don't give up. Know your rights. And if you're looking to exercise your Second Amendment freedoms elsewhere, well, I've got options for you.