BERKELEY – Berkeley is one of the latest local towns where people have asked for the fees attached to gun permits to be refunded
Several towns have had residents request the fees be refunded over the course of the last year. One argument has been that since the right to bear arms is the second amendment to the Constitution, people shouldn’t be charged for these rights.
The current fees are $25 per permit, $50 for the initial firearm identification card, and $150 for a carry permit. These are state fees, not Berkeley’s. The state also has a Civilian Carry Assessment and Range Evaluation to pass.
“I’m getting priced out of my permit,” said Keith Durgin of Bayville during a recent Township Council meeting. He was one of a few gun owners who came to request the refunds.
When a gun owner registers, the background check is done by the State Police, he explained. Therefore, there’s not much work done on the municipal level.
Michael Glenn of Lacey said he was with the New Jersey Firearms Owners Syndicate and that the fees went up by 400%.
Tony Rockhill of Beachwood said he feels that the high fees set by the state are intentional in order to make fewer people buy guns.
Councilman James Byrnes noted he had recently paid the same fees, and suggested looking into at least reducing it to administrative costs.
Councilman Doug Bowens also said it was worth looking into.
He also advocated for a change in the way the state provides free cancer screenings to firefighters.
Firefighters are at an increased risk for cancer due to exposure to burning housing materials. The state allows a town to submit reimbursement for cancer screenings for paid firefighters, but not volunteers. Bowens said he supports a motion to add volunteers to this.
Byrnes added he’d want to see veterans get reimbursed as well.
While on the subject of first responders like firefighters, the Township Council passed a resolution recognizing Public Works professionals as first responders. The reason for this, officials said, is that they are also called in during emergencies. For example, Public Works employees worked long shifts clearing debris after Superstorm Sandy.
However, it doesn’t have to be a natural disaster. Even a normal snowfall brings Public Works staff out to plow. Clearing a road can be a life or death situation for someone on dialysis or with some other medical conditions.
