Concealed Carry And Permits
Readington will refund its $150 concealed carry application fee
Refund ordinance in Readington Township to reverse part of the concealed carry application fee
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Readington, New Jersey
READINGTON, NJ In a significant move for concealed carry permit holders, the Readington Township Committee in New Jersey has introduced an ordinance to refund part of the $200 fee associated with applying for a concealed carry permit. The ordinance, which will undergo a final vote on October 20, seeks to refund $150 of the fee, which is charged by the municipality for processing applications. The decision to refund part of the fee comes after concerns that the high cost of obtaining a concealed carry permit imposes an unjust financial burden on applicants, particularly given that carrying a firearm is seen as a fundamental constitutional right. The move follows national gun rights advocacy and lobbying by organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA), who have long argued that high fees for concealed carry permits constitute an unconstitutional tax on Second Amendment rights. The fees in question are related to the increased cost of obtaining a concealed carry permit after a 2022 Supreme Court ruling struck down laws requiring applicants to demonstrate a special need to carry firearms outside the home. Readingtons mayor, Adam Mueller, criticized the increased cost, stating, Its an unnecessary tax on a resident exercising a constitutional right. Prior to the Supreme Court ruling, the fee for a concealed carry permit was a nominal $20, but the fee increased to $200 following the court decision, with $150 going to municipalities and $50 going to the state. Mayor Mueller emphasized that although the increased fee was intended to cover the administrative costs associated with the changes to the permitting process, it nevertheless posed a financial barrier to many people. As a result, the Township Committee introduced the ordinance, which will refund $150 to any resident who has paid this portion of the fee after January 1 of this year. The changes will apply to the portion of the fee retained by the municipality, with the states $50 portion not subject to the refund. The refund ordinance passed with a 4-1 vote at the September 15 meeting, and it will now undergo a public hearing before a final vote is held next month. Gun rights groups have lobbied for similar refund ordinances in other New Jersey municipalities, arguing that the high costs of concealed carry permits disproportionately impact law-abiding citizens who are merely exercising their right to self-defense. The NRA has supported these efforts, highlighting that no one should be priced out of their right to carry a firearm for self-defense purposes. The issue of concealed carry fees has been a point of contention in many states following the Supreme Courts ruling, which further solidified the right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms outside the home. In addition to the financial burdens imposed by these fees, critics also highlight that excessive requirements for concealed carry permits, such as mandatory psychological exams, create unnecessary barriers to exercising a fundamental right.