New Milford Gun Permit Applications More Than Double From Same Time Last Year
Applications for gun permits issued in New Milford during January and February 2013 more than double from same time period in 2012.
Police Chief Frank Papapietro reported that New Milford received 61 applications for handgun permits during the first two months of 2013, more than double the amount received during the same time period in 2012. According to Papapietro, there were only 25 handgun applications during the first two months of 2012.
Included in these numbers are applications for firearm I.D. cards that allow a person to purchase a shotgun or rifle. (In order to obtain a handgun permit you first need a firearm ID card.)
Papapietro attributes this rise, in part, to pending legislation intended to make gun laws more stringent. In the wake of the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, a growing number of local, state and federal legislators are calling for stricter gun control laws.
"Because of pending legislation calling for tighter restrictions, people who had been considering purchasing a gun want to do it before the laws change," Papapietro said.
Papapietro also attributes Superstorm Sandy with its extensive power outages to the rise in applications.
"Sandy was a crisis situation where people lost faith in the infrastructure," Papapietro said.
Many residents in New Milford were without power for ten days and local law enforcement agencies throughout Bergen County were stretched to their limits.
"Not only was law enforcement responding to regular emergency calls, but we were tasked with maintaining peace and providing crowd and traffic control during the gas crisis," Papapietro said.
"In addition to that, we were also diligently policing areas without power and making our presence felt around town to give comfort to our residents by letting them know we were here and they were protected," he added.
However, Papapietro said that Sandy was a game changer in that people have come to expect that a significant loss of power will accompany every large storm.
"A crisis like Sandy drives people's fears because there's an overwhelming sense of powerlessness when you're without power for that long," Papapietro said.
"For some people, having a gun in the house alleviates those fears by making them feel that they can protect their family should anything threaten their security during a time of crisis."
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Jimmy Drake
7:20 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
IMO, anyone getting a handgun PURCHASE permit should be required to attend and pass a firearm safety course. Semi automatic and revolver type pistols each come with their own specific dangers. and once that shell has been discharged there 'ain't no takin it back". You could wind up shooting your family, a neighbor, a firefighter, police officer or someone asking for help.
If we can imagine - All street lights are out, phones are dead, everyone is huddling around, maybe the gas stove is boiling water (unlesss of course you have a generator) and there are maybe some candles - - of course everyone is scared.....
NONE of which affects a good barking dog.
Seriously, I love sport shooting. BUT, considering killing a wrong person, watching him/her bleed profusely and slowly die right in my doorway, the kids crying and in shock, hiring a very costly attorney, losing work to appear in court and the following legal entanglements, watching the cleanup crew mop up the blood, brains and whatever the errant recipient of YOUR mistake left behind.
A good dog and dead bolt locks are a LOT better option.
IMO anyway.
Jack
10:40 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
You SHOULD get safety training, as I've recently arranged for my wife prior to bringing a gun into the house.
You SHOULD keep your guns locked up in you have kids in the home.
You absolutely CANNOT require these things by law. These are consitutional rights that are our natural born god-given rights that all Americans have, not conditional privaledges granted us by the idiots in Trenton.
Jimmy Drake
7:22 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I am sorry bout being graphic, but THAT is what WILL happen should you "shoot first and ask questions later"!
John
8:46 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
When he or she shoots and kills your wife and or kids and maybe the dog what are you going to do than?
Jimmy I do agree about the training.
Jimmy Drake
10:19 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
John, I understand how you wants to protect your family. when my son turned 13, he got a hunting license & of course the firearm safety course. We spent hours up at Shepherd lake shooting clay pigeons. 1 day I had him shoot a quart of cranberry juice to see what a little 16 gauge shotgun can do & the mess it makes. Even cops endure hours of training as to when & when not to shoot. It all boils down to a judgement call at the worst time & when you are least prepared to make such a life ending decision.
I don't have the stats, but I'm sure many more people in our area of the State (thank God) are not as much in danger of home invasion & murder - as perhaps in Chicago. Although a psycho could be anywhere at any time. As was the case in Newtown. I'm not debating the issue of self defense at all. I'm just of the opinion to prepare all you can first, if an invasion happens, know who & what your target is - & if required, do ANYthing that is necessary to protect what's yours. WITHIN your home. If the guy has no weapon, you're in trouble if you shoot him.
You chase the guy down the street and shoot him, you are in BIG trouble. and to be sure, overreaction has become an epidemic. That poor grammar school kid, the other day was sent home because a cookie or whatever he was eating was deemed to look like a gun. IMO, be prepared as best you can to prevent a situation. Learn how to use a firearm correctly - However, given no choice in the matter, put your training to use.
TommyIce
9:10 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
All this means is that there is a segment of the population who have come to the realization that they are responsible for themselves. That they can't rely on their government for every aspect of their life. And yes, in times of crises (especially power outages) crime is increased.
Police can't prevent ALL crimes. Most can only be prevented by the cop being at the right place at the right time. Otherwise they are just reporting, following up and hopefully capturing the criminal.
There's a phrase....I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy. I for one, feel safer knowing that those around me are PROPERLY educated, trained and armed.
You are already required by the State of New Jersey to attend a one time Firearm Safety courses in order to purchase a hunting permit or license. I agree that this should expand to include all permit purchases.
Jeffrey DelVecchio
9:42 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Please note: you need a firearms ID card in order to get a pistol purchase permit, not the other way around as the article states.
Jimmy Drake
10:29 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Hey Jeff, I know, I know - - I'll have to shovel the snow tomorrow, so I promise - it'll be done.
Carter was just elected President when I got my firearm ID card. Good thing to have. and it counts like 3 points when you need a six point ID verification.
Ann Piccirillo
10:39 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Thanks Jeff, I made the correction.
tony g2010
12:39 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
In my opinion, the jump in the number of permits is due in large part to the tragic events in CT and the subsequent backlash of the anti gun rhetoric and the fact that the ability to buy certain guns will be taken away. A “Get while the getting is good” mentality for sure. I do not disagree with the Sandy effect, but think it has less of a role in the increase in gun purchases, even being without power for 10 days, I did not get a sense that too many people were concerned for their own safety, but then again most people I know have guns and dogs. cont.
tony g2010
12:39 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
cont. What Jimmy describes, in a graphic, but realistic way, is what every legal gun owner should be thinking about always and often: Consequences and Responsibility. We need to be responsible for the security and safety of all aspects of owning the firearm, because as described, you cannot take back a bullet and whatever the barrel is pointed out will most likely die, and it could be the kid, a neighbor, dog or fireman that is standing behind an intended target.
Proper storage, maintenance and usage are key. A firearms instruction program should be required initially and I am a proponent of some sort of qualification and required range time monthly. You can never get good at shooting without doing it frequently. However in a crisis situation even the most experienced target shooter can make mistakes and that is where the consequences come in, moral and legal. The large percentage of the population would never want to take the life of someone stealing a car or material possessions, but would if their own or someone they loved life’s was in danger. In NJ the laws are very clear when deadly force can be used and it does need to be an extreme situation. The fact is that brandishing of a gun is a deterrent, but the reality is that a properly stored gun, is not necessarily that easy to access in an emergency situation
Jimmy Drake
2:17 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Thanks tony.
Jack
10:34 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
"...there's an overwhelming sense of powerlessness when you're without power..."
Thanks for that.