FARS Application Procedures for Applicants:
https://www.njportal.com/NJSP/fars
NJSP has installed a new system for obtaining a Firearms ID card or Permit called FARS (Firearms Application and Registration System). With the new system in place, ETPD will no longer be accepting applications in person as the new system is an application that is based online. Below are the procedures of how to obtain a Firearms ID card or Permit. FARS Application Procedures for Applicants:
• Step 1: visit this website. You MUST enter the site address as follows: https://www.njportal.com/NJSP/fars
• Step 2: Consult your Police Department and obtain their ORI # (EASTAMPTON: NJ0031100) (You WILL NOT be able to complete the FARS online application WITHOUT THE PROPER ORI#)
• Step 3: Complete the online application. You may complete the application using a smartphone, mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer. When completing the application you will need the email addresses of 2 reputable references. Your references can be family members.
• Step 4: You MUST appear at your Police Department to PAY for your INITIAL FID card and/or Pistol Purchase Permits. Your application WILL NOT be processed until you have PAID for the FID Card/Pistol Permits. Non-refundable payment is required to be made prior to the completion of the background as per NJAC 13:54-1.4.
*You will be receiving automated email updates throughout this new process.
*Once your application is complete, a station representative will contact you to retrieve your FID card and/or pistol purchase permit documents.
*Please advise your references that the FARS system will email them the reference questions to be answered. Your references can complete the questions using a smartphone, mobile device, laptop or desktop computer. Please advise them to complete the questions immediately to progress your background investigation.
*The on-line application is applicant driven. Please ensure that you have entered the best phone numbers for yourself and references as well as the best email addresses for yourself and references.
*Applications will not be completed until fees are met.
Firearms ID Permit: $50
Permit to Purchase Firearm: $25
ONLY CASH, MONEY ORDER OR PERSONAL CHECK ACCEPTED AT 1380 Woodlane Road, Eastampton NJ 08060
To make an online payment for a Permit to Purchase Firearm, Firearms ID Permit or a Concealed Carry Permit click here to be redirected to a secure page.
https://www.njportal.com/NJSP/fars
N.J.A.C. 13:54-2.4
Application for a permit to carry a handgun:
(a) Every person applying for a permit to carry a handgun shall furnish such information and particulars as set forth int he application for designated SP 642.
The application shall be signed by the applicant under oath and shall be endorsed by three reputable persons who have known the applicant for at least three years preceding the date of application, and who shall also certify thereon that the applicant is a person of good moral character and behavior.
Applications can be obtained at police departments and State Police stations.
(b) Each applicant shall demonstrate a thorough familiarity with the safe handling and use of handguns by indicating in the space provided therefore on the application form, and on any sworn attachments thereto, any relevant information.
Thorough familiarity with the safe handling and use of handguns shall be evidenced by:
1. Completion of a firearms training course substantially equivalent to the firearms training approved by the Police Training Commission as described by N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6j;
2. Submission of an applicant's most recent handgun qualification scores utilized the handgun(s) he or she intends to carry as evidenced by test firings administered by a certified firearms instructor of a police academy, a certified firearms instruction of the National Rifle Association, or any other recognized certified firearms instructor; and
3. Passage of any test in this State's law governing the use of force administered by a certified instructor of a police academy, a certified instructor of the National Rifle Association, or any other recognized certified instructor;
(c) The information in (b) above shall be accompanied and validated by certifications of the appropriate instructor(s).
*Applications will not be completed until fees are met. Must be made payable to:
Eastampton Township: $150 (CASH OR PERSONAL CHECK)
New Jersey State Police: $ 50 (MONEY ORDER ONLY)
Please be aware that the fee for the CCP is nonrefundable for any reason.
For more information on Firearms Safety & Awareness, and the PTC Use of Force and Qualification information regarding CCP’s, you can refer to the NJSP.org website under forms to download to read, review, or download same. You can refer to the attached guidelines which are set forth by the State of NJ, Office of the Attorney General and has been revised as of September 15, 2023.
Please contact Police Officer Andrea DiTomaso at (609) 261-1717 with any questions regarding this process. She is available Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm.
Concealed Carry Permit Update
(Rev. 09/15/2023)
CCARE = CIVILIAN CARRY ASSESSMENT AND RANGE EVALUATION.
ALL CERTIFIED FIREARMS INSTRUCTORS SHALL NOW INSTRUCT ON THE CCARE PROTOCOL.
As for individuals who completed firearms training prior to July 1, 2023, and whose permit to carry does not expire until after December 22, 2023, they must requalify on the CCARE protocol, or the HQC2-modified protocol issued on July 21, 2023. An individual who completed a course of fire prior to the issuance of the CCARE protocol is deemed to have satisfied N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4(g)(2) IF AND ONLY IF the prior course included each of the following:
- A minimum of 50 scored rounds per participant.
- Minimum passage scores of 80% using an FBI type Q target.
- At least 10 rounds must be from the 15, 10, 7, 5, and 3 yard lines each, or if fewer rounds were fired from those distances, the remaining rounds must have been fired from greater distances.
The participant must demonstrate safe holstering and unholstering during the shooting course, which must include safely drawing the weapon from a secured holster before firing at each of the required distances and re-holstering after completing the round.
The participant must demonstrate proficient and safe reloading during the shooting course.
No substantially similar courses completed after the CCARE protocol is issued will be accepted.
The following is stated on the homepage of the Concealed Carry website. "The Concealed Carry Permits service allows for online submission of both initial and renewal applications. If you have never applied for a concealed carry permit on this website, then you will apply as an initial applicant. Approved applications are due for renewal every two (2) years. Renewal applications can be submitted up to four (4) months before the expiration date." The online portal started in July of 2023; therefore, July of 2025 will be two years since the online portal started. In March of 2025, four months prior to July 2025, a renewal button will be available for applicants who obtained their initial Concealed Carry permit through the online portal.
The CCARE qualification states on the form, "The above-named Permit to Carry applicant has successfully qualified on a course of fire consisting of either 1) the HQC2 (modified) protocol issued on July 21, 2023, or 2) the Civilian Carry Assessment and Range Evaluation protocol issued on September 15, 2023." This is also explained in 2C:58-4D(3). If they were trained before these dates and their training qualification form is unclear in comparison to the CCARE Memorandum located on the NJSP website then their training must be submitted via the CCARE qualification form. No other forms are currently acceptable because the CCARE qualification form was created over nine months ago. CCARE is the only live fire training standard. (Forms may be found below)
It also states on the form, "Any requirement for classroom instruction and target training shall not be required for a renewal applicant who completed the instruction and training when obtaining a permit to carry a handgun issued within the previous two years." To be clear, this does not mean the qualification itself is expired in two years it means the applicant must apply before their issued permit to carry expires. If they qualified on 1/01/2023, applied on 3/01/2023, and were approved on 5/01/2023, then the applicant's qualification is valid until 5/01/2025 if and only if it is equivalent to what is stated in the prior paragraph above on the CCARE form. If the applicant was approved prior to the above qualifications and their training did not meet the standard expressed in the CCARE Memorandum, their permit to carry is invalid as of 1/01/2024 until they recertify. If they apply after they permit to carry expired, they must requalify. The onus is on the applicant to keep up with the qualification standards and not the police department to contact every single applicant. We are not requesting proof of ownership for firearms due to the many loopholes in firearm registration and are not required to validate each handgun, that onus is also on the applicant.