Well yea....can't have the common folk run around with guns, that would be a sure way of armed rebellion!
Seems like an attempt to make it too expensive only later in the next few years to say "See? No one wants to carry a gun, only 100 civilians applied so let's sunset this law and move on."
I agree that fee is way high but that could be lowered in the legislative process and even if its not it would be a step in the right direction for a place like NJ.
Please, pay for your rights...Next up is a speaking fee, remain silent unless you've payed your speaking tax!
The bill in question: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills ... 264_I1.HTM Fee now: $20 (plus fingerprinting?) Fee with the bill: $500 License term now: 2 years License term with the bill: 1 year Qualification interval now: 2 years? Qualification interval with the bill: 6 months Oh, and it may be shall-issue, but could be heavily and irregularly encumbered: The above text is existing law and would not be modified by the bill. I don't think it constitutes a shall-issue bill. I honestly wonder if somebody thinks there are too many permits issued in NJ at the moment. The cost increases 50 fold and the qualification interval 4 fold. Unless NJ has lots of millionaires with tons of free time running around, I predict an overall decrease in the number of permits.