First off I am acutely aware NJ is a very unfriendly state to gun owners. I know many departments straight up disregard or don’t adhere to the one month approve or deny law.

I haven’t applied for a pistol permit in roughly 8 years but did so because my local gun shop finally had the gun I’ve wanted for quite a while in stock. I paid over the phone and quickly applied for my permit using the new online system. This was done in late June, possibly early July. To date I have had no updates since August 1st. I have a valid FID card and have bought a few rifles in that 8 year period but no new handguns. I received confirmation that my reference checks and background check was completed on August 1st but have heard absolutely nothing since.

Last month I decided to go to my police station (Marlboro) and I asked if there is something going on that’s making the process take so long. The detective told me that they have a massive backlog and they were just then processing requests from June and there were 500 applicants. They also told me only one woman works on these for a short period of time on Tuesday’s.

Now I’m not one to make waves and I know being to forceful can have very negative ramifications but I’m encountering a difficult problem here. I will be moving to North Carolina in the next few months and I have no clue about what kind of mess this will make if I am not approved by then.

Here are my concerns: 1. The gun shop has been holding my gun for 7 months. I’m a bit concerned about what they will do if I don’t get back to them soon. 2. The new “red flag” laws greatly concern me. I’ve never been involuntary committed or adjudicated a threat to myself or others but I have seen therapist for chronic persistent depression (a non suicidal form of depression, you just feel bleh about everything) 3. I just do not understand how these departments can just flout the law and do as they please in regards to approval.

I suppose my question is what should I do here? Continue to wait and leave them alone or go back to the department and try to get more clarification? I just desperately want to have this taken care of before the move. I’m also more then a bit irked that friends and relatives have received their permits much more quickly by only being a town over.

Any advice would be much appreciated.