I grew up in NJ too. I was in the Asbury Park area from birth to the mid 70's. My family didn't have guns, but I remember being chased out of a sporting goods section of a store because i was looking at BB guns and I wasn't 18 yet.
It was a very nice, blue collar. family friendly area with decent schools and nice homes. Now the homes that working class people could afford, sell in the half million dollar range, and up. Taxes are high, crime is high, it's a whole different world. Most of my family, and people I grew up with, are scattered around the country. Just our memories of the old days remain.