I am a soon-to-be 27 year old male that presently lives in NJ, but am moving after my tax refund to a less restrictive state. While in NJ, I earned a conviction for a 3rd-degree crime which in NJ is ‘Unlawful Possession of a Weapon," or "Possession without License" 2C:39-5. It was treated as a Felony because that is what NJ Does. my problem and bitterness with the State lie in that the ‘Weapon’ was a BB Gun/Pellet gun… and fit NJs definition of a weapon, and it makes me mad that NJ compares BBs to real rounds fired out of real weapons. I now have something that in NJ is a ‘Felony,’ since I finished my 2 Years Probation (this is over the BB Gun, folks, and if I fight hard enough I can retain the court papers that say that on every page.)

I am. however, the victim of severe firearms violence, and feel much more comfortable owning one, not really mattering what it is. Long gun, handgun, small caliber, large, whatever… and I am -determined- to legally own one! *Note: I am not even talking about CCW (yet) here… just doing like Florida to legally have one in my home is fine with me (Tampa.) (I am one of the NOBama people, no secret I would never be able to own one in my life with the laws he likes. That day is coming, folks.)

My question here, is if I move to a state with better laws on matters like this – Alabama, Utah, something – that only requires a Federal check, this item will still popo up. Now I do not know if I will receive a ‘Deny’ or ‘Delay’ response right then, or if they will send Police to where I am for even trying to make a legal purchase, but What if, in the state I decide to become a legal provable resident, the charge that is a ‘Felony’ (3rd Degree Superior Court, technically punishabe by 5 years PRISON for the BB Gun, getting really mad here, I was sentenced to 2 years probation because I think the Courts knew how weak the case was but were powerless to downgrade past the prosecutor, honestly) is -Not Eben a Crime- to possess BB, Pellet, and Airsoft guns in the new state???

I would really appreciate some insight, because Expungement in NJ is 5 or 10 years, and by no means guaranteed. Thank You for your input, I am sure some veteran firearms sellers/shooters/store owbers have come across the ‘Prohibited Person’ in one state, Fine by the new state laws-scenario before. Please pardon my occasional typos, and yes I know this is a tricky thing, I just appreciate some info and hopefully favorable information, this topic bugs me! I do not want my mistake to literally be with me my whole life on earth. Thanks.

- Joe

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