Non-Resident Long Gun Purchase

[FlyersFan]

Greetings from the People's Republic of New Jersey! I have a quick question for your kind Virginia folks. I have received conflicting information about whether or not New Jersey residents can purchase long guns in Virginia. NJ law allows us to purchase long guns in any state, provided we possess a NJ Firearms ID Card. Every VA Wal-Mart I've been in seems to allow NJ residents to purchase long guns - In fact, I spoke to a manager at the Wal-Mart in Lynchburg who kindly informed me that NJ residents were allowed to purchase long guns there. However, I was recently told by a manager at a Dick's Sporting Goods store in Northern VA that NJ residents were not allowed to purchase any type of firearm in VA. I was hoping you folks could give me a straight answer on this.

Thanks so much!

[allingeneral]

FlyersFan welcome aboard.

As far as I know, you do not have to be a Virginia state resident to purchase a long gun here. Dick's Sporting Goods may have their own policy which precludes your purchase, but state and federal law do not prohibit it.

If you're over 18 years of age, you can purchase a rifle or shotgun from an FFL dealer in any state (as long as it's not a "pistol-grip" long gun, in which case, you need to be 21 years of age).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_law_in ... ted_States

[GS78]

If I was you, I would go back to that walmart

[zephyp]

I believe anyone 18 or over can legally purchase a rifle or shotgun in any other state provided they comply with the laws of both states...

[FlyersFan]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I am thinking the manager at Dick's was simply mistaken, or was following some sort of misguided store policy. Either way, I was quite baffled at Dick's when after I filled out all the paperwork, passed the background check, and took the walk up to the cash registers that I was confronted with a manager saying it was "illegal" for them to sell rifles to residents of certain states, including New Jersey. I find it hilarious when people create gun laws out of thin air...Congress does enough of that - we don't need others doing it as well!

I hope they properly handle all the paperwork I filled out too. I don't want some nutjob committing a crime with the gun I was going to buy and have the cops come knocking at my door thinking I own it!

[zephyp]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I am thinking the manager at Dick's was simply mistaken, or was following some sort of misguided store policy. Either way, I was quite baffled at Dick's when after I filled out all the paperwork, passed the background check, and took the walk up to the cash registers that I was confronted with a manager saying it was "illegal" for them to sell rifles to residents of certain states, including New Jersey. I find it hilarious when people create gun laws out of thin air...Congress does enough of that - we don't need others doing it as well!

I hope they properly handle all the paperwork I filled out too. I don't want some nutjob committing a crime with the gun I was going to buy and have the cops come knocking at my door thinking I own it!

The manager was part right/part wrong. It depends on what kind of rifle. If a certain kind of rifle like "assault" is illegal in NJ as a NJ resident it is illegal for you to purchase one in VA or any other state.

What kind of rifle did you try to buy and can you buy this same type of rifle in NJ? I'm ignorant (and thankfully so) of gun laws in NJ btw...

[FlyersFan]

The manager was part right/part wrong. It depends on what kind of rifle. If a certain kind of rifle like "assault" is illegal in NJ as a NJ resident it is illegal for you to purchase one in VA or any other state.

What kind of rifle did you try to buy and can you buy this same type of rifle in NJ? I'm ignorant (and thankfully so) of gun laws in NJ btw...

That's a good point, zephyp. It was actually a standard Ruger 10/22 rifle with a wooden stock, haha - definitely legal here in the Garden State. They have them at my local gun shop for around $230, which is why I was more than willing to buy one at that Northern VA Dick's store for $189, with the $10 off any firearm sale going on right now.

And yeah, NJ gun laws are pretty ridiculous. You folks are lucky to live in such a gun-friendly state!

[Vahunter]

The wal marts in North Carolina where I work have a map posted of states where they can and can not sell guns to a resident of. Unless it has changed the peoples republic of New jersey was on the black list. I think it has to due with the tight restrictions in jersey on guns and the police don't want you to be able to buy a gun and some how get around the states registration. You might as well move here in the county I live in. We have a population of 12K and I think 10K are from jersey. Hell one more won't hurt.

[zephyp]

The manager was part right/part wrong. It depends on what kind of rifle. If a certain kind of rifle like "assault" is illegal in NJ as a NJ resident it is illegal for you to purchase one in VA or any other state.

What kind of rifle did you try to buy and can you buy this same type of rifle in NJ? I'm ignorant (and thankfully so) of gun laws in NJ btw...

That's a good point, zephyp. It was actually a standard Ruger 10/22 rifle with a wooden stock, haha - definitely legal here in the Garden State. They have them at my local gun shop for around $230, which is why I was more than willing to buy one at that Northern VA Dick's store for $189, with the $10 off any firearm sale going on right now.

And yeah, NJ gun laws are pretty ridiculous. You folks are lucky to live in such a gun-friendly state!

Yeah those 10/22 super "assault" rifles are pretty wicked. I'd take Henry up on his offer and move to Charlotte County...

[Diomed]

The wal marts in North Carolina where I work have a map posted of states where they can and can not sell guns to a resident of. Unless it has changed the peoples republic of New jersey was on the black list. I think it has to due with the tight restrictions in jersey on guns and the police don't want you to be able to buy a gun and some how get around the states registration.

That's probably a company policy, not a law thing. It's just easier to give a blanket "no" than it is to come up with a comprehensive set of procedures and then train all the relevant employees on it.