I have a question regarding concealed or open carry to the range. In NJ we have virtually no carry options and are only allowed transport from home to range and back. Most, I suppose, use some sort of range bag but here's the question. Can I slip my favorite handgun in my pocket instead of carrying a bag that pretty much says, "handgun inside here" as I enter to leave the range?
Most of my local ranges are in less than desirable areas and I sometimes wonder if I'm going to be hit over the head when leaving. I know this is a NJ legal question but just wonder what other non carry state residents think about this. I've sat on enough grand juries that have been instructed on what possession is and I can't see the difference between possession in pocket or bag.
Just wondering.

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Back to back World War Champs.

Aloha,

I don't know what your specific gun laws state.

CCW is Not issued here.

Here in Hawaii the laws is very specific about how

a gun must be encased going anywhere where it is legal to have.

Personally, I would Not have asked the question at all.

On the internet, it is forever.

Just saying...........

A firearm carried on your person, whether in a holster or pocket, is concealed, whether that was the intent or not. Carried in a gun box or gun rug (soft case) is not usually deemed to be concealed. If you don't possess a "concealed" permit, regardless of what your state calls it, then do not carry a firearm concealed! I wold think this would be particularly true in New Jersey, where law enforcement seems to rarely exercise anything even slightly resembling common sense in enforcement of gun laws!

This sounds like a great way to spend some time in prison. In a range bag is far from being concealed in a pocket. I have friends in NJ and they tell me if you are going to and from the range you are ok. Also it is supposed to be in a locked or sealed bag, or in the trunk. And you technically aren't even supposed to make stops in between. I just googled the law in NJ and it seems pretty clear you are setting yourself up for some major legal issues.

There was a recent crowd-funding website that was raising funds for the legal defense of a security guard in NJ that had the appropriate permit for possession but had stashed his gun in the glove box and forgotten it. He was charged and convicted thereby ending his dream of becoming a LEO. Took a pardon from Christy to avoid a jail sentense for him I believe.

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Old paratrooper in NC

And I thought we had it bad in New York

I'm not setting my self up for anything, this was just a hypothetical question. It's a slow day here in NJ.

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Back to back World War Champs.

At the ranges I use, ALL firearms get carried in contained in a case, and are checked at the door.

IF you were to have a CC weapon on your person, you are forbidden to take it out while on the property. If you want to shoot it, you MUST put it in a case outside the range, and check it in at the desk. These are range rules that we agree to as part of membership, NOT state or local laws. No state open carry allowed for handguns, so they need to be in a backpack or unmarked case, which is allowed for transportation. If you have a CC permit, you can have ammo in the bag, and mags loaded. No permit, the ammo has to be in a separate box if off your property, mags can not be loaded outside of the car. Most of my non-permit friends keep the car gun mags in the car, and have empties in the carry case.

If you come to a class that involves holsters, the firearm must still be cased and checked in at entry.

Oh, you do, my friend. You do.

I don't know how I survived some of the places I've lived. In about 3 months, we'll have permitless concealed carry. We already have almost no restrictions on private party transfer - you only need have a good faith belief that the other party is a non-felon, Maine resident over 21 (as are both parties), and you're good to go.

Long live Liberty. We have a small radical fringe, screaming "blood in the streets" at every opportunity, so ever vigilant.

OP: based on what I'm seeing online, in your pocket, loaded or not, is a violation without a CC permit. Be thoughtful about that course before you embark upon it.

Ask Christie...

I don't have a solution or answer, but threads like these are good to remind me why I will never move out of state . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Sounds like two separate issues.

You want to pocket carry from the range parking lot in and out of the range without a carry permit. Is carrying on private property legal in NJ?

The second issue is bringing a loaded gun to the range. Our Club is a "cold range". Meaning that all guns brought to shoot are empty until on the firing line. The exception to this is carry guns. If you're carrying when you enter the Club it remains holstered.

The answer is NO. By putting the gun in your pocket it is now concealed and you are carrying it.

The differences between bag and pocket is that the bag or box or case is simply a container to transport object. While ....if in your pocket it is actually on your person. The bag can be set down and away from you. Unless you decided to de-pants that gun is on you.

You would be setting yourself up for problems if an officer stopped you for some reason. Find a range in a better area even if you have to drive for a bit. I don't know where in NJ you reside but if you're in the NE Philadelphia/Bucks Co side check out the range on Rt68. It's Ft. Dix. Or just drive over to Pa. If you are on this side let me know and I'll give you a list of ranges in Pa

Who's the issuing authority in NJ, only he/she knows the answer to that, I wouldn't take internet advice especially from non Jersey residents.

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Sure you did

Thank ....... I'm in Pa.

I don't go to the "Club" without a concealed handgun........80-90% of the time I'm the only one there.........

Heck on the 100yd range...... I'll sling my rifle for the 200yd walk ....... empty but a..... loaded mag in my pocket.......................

I didn't see anywhere in the post you made that this was a hypothetical question. Most people when they have hypothetical questions start with "Hypothetically" and then the question. My answer was based on the assumption you were thinking about doing it. Sorry, if I got it wrong.

All he has to do it google it. All the NJ rules pertaining to transporting firearms are right there for the reading. Even us non NJ residents can read them. This is from an ex NJ resident of 63 years. Only 4 here in NC. The only reason I googled it was I wanted to make sure nothing had changed since I left.

Escapee's qualify

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Sure you did

Not sure what you're asking here. If you're asking about the law, figure out which member here is a NJ lawyer and works for free, and send him a PM.

If you're looking for practical advice, mine is obey the law, avoid bad areas even if there are ranges there, and use a bag that doesn't say "handgun inside here." Soft briefcase? Back pack? Doubled-up Trader Joe's grocery bags? Recycled colostomy bag? How about a beach nag? Or a giveaway bag from some organization of tree-huggers? You must have something that can hold your stuff without having NRA designs all over it. If all else fails, buy something, possibly at the Good Will store.

P.S. That's my alternate answer. I'm sure that you know that the right answer is to leave NJ. You know you're in the wrong state when you're getting this kind of advice from MA.

This was never about carrying a loaded handgun. This was about possession as it would pertain to being in a pocket or a separate bag which in cases of illegal possession there's no distinction. I'm not suggesting that I want to break any laws or range rules. Just trying to understand the irony of it all here in NJ.
For the record I use a soft sided brief case as a range bag and even nice neighborhoods have their fair share of grab and run crimes.

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Back to back World War Champs.

I would think it's really a non-issue how you carry it. You're at a gun range. The assumption will be that you have a gun. So, the concept of concealing it from potential thieves by carrying it in your pocket seems pointless.

The big question for me is, isn't there a range in a nicer part of town?

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Freedom isn't free.

As you should have read from the previous posts, the owners of various gun ranges have different opinions about how a gun arrives at their range . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

In my state it's not illegal to carry concealed at a range but we must abide by the rules of that particular range. Some are very strict about no loaded or concealed weapons on the property while others are silent on the issue. Not wanting to get kicked out & embarrassed I follow the range rules.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

So what? What does that have to do with what I said? I was commenting on this from the OP:I took this as being concerned about being assaulted and having is gun stolen as he leaves the range. Did I read this wrong?

If you're leaving a gun range, it's safe to assume that you have a gun with you. At least that's how I think a criminal would think.

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Freedom isn't free.

And his gun range doesn't let you do that in a readily accessible self defense mode. I guess you did read that wrong . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

No, in NJ it really is an issue of how you carry. On you it's is illigal plain and simple. There is no IF or AND or HOW it is either on you or not. Carry a gun on you without a license and it's illegal. Even 2 ft from g our car to the range. It's also not legal to stop somewhere between the range and your house. No stopping for food or gas. Home-range, range-home. Any other deviation is a no no. You can,,and people have been, arrested and jailed for it

No, I read it correctly. This was never about that. You must have missed this post:He didn't want it in a "readily accessible self-defense mode." He just wanted to avoid being a target.


Yes, but that's not what I was talking about.

He was asking about carrying the gun in such a manner that it wouldn't seem like he had a gun. The idea was to avoid theft through stealth. I was merely commenting that even if it were legal to do that, it would be pointless. The simple fact that someone is exiting a gun range would be enough for a criminal to think there was a gun to be stolen.

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Freedom isn't free.

This Thread just makes me more thankful that I live in AZ. I go to the range with my concealed gun carried as usual and the guns I plan to shoot in my range bag.....so simple. Nothing is "Locked Up" and the ammo is in the bag with the guns, and all on laying on the backseat of my truck.

Same here in NC. It's good to be out of NJ.

love my local range. carry in open or concealed pay your fee draw and shoot