On October 20, Readington, New Jersey, passed an ordinance allowing the refund of the $150 municipal portion of the state-mandated Permit to Carry fee, becoming the ninth town in the state to pass such a measure, just behind Beachwood, which passed the measure last week.
Ordinance# 21-2025 allows any applicant who paid the $150 fee on or after October 20, 2025, and who submits a valid receipt, to apply for a refund, which is administered by the Township’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
The ordinance was introduced in a motion by Councilman Panico on September 15th, with support from Councilman Huelsebusch. During the first reading vote, the measure received a Yes vote from all present except for Councilman Heller, who voted No. The final vote on October 20 was identical, with all voting Yes except for Councilman Heller.
Readington Mayor Adam Mueller, an early recipient of a New Jersey Permit to Carry, was a significant proponent of the bill and told News2A:
I have long been a firm supporter of the Second Amendment and the individual right of citizens to keep and bear arms. This ordinance is consistent with that principle, and it takes a practical step to remove an unnecessary financial barrier for law-abiding residents seeking a Permit to Carry. No citizen should be forced to pay a premium to exercise a freedom guaranteed by the Second Amendment.
The mayor learned about the initiative from the New Jersey Firearms Owners Society (NJFOS) and other Second Amendment advocacy groups. His reasons for backing the bill are grounded in a firm understanding of the barriers the state has erected, infringing upon Second Amendment rights:
I understand firsthand the thorough background checks, training, and other requirements applicants must satisfy. When Democrats in Trenton quadrupled permit fees after the Bruen decision, they created an undue financial obstacle for residents seeking to exercise a constitutional right. As Mayor, I felt it necessary to respond to protect the Second Amendment and to ensure that compliance with the permitting process remains affordable and accessible for any law-abiding citizen.
Mayor Mueller’s responsible exposure to firearms started from a young age, including in the Boy Scouts where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, his education at the US Merchant Marine Academy and service as an officer in the US Navy. Today, he continues to teach his children the principles of safe and lawful firearms ownership.
The statutory fee to apply for a concealed carry permit in New Jersey has been $200 since the state’s so-called “carry killer” bill was signed into law in December of 2022. $50 of that fee was designated to go to the New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit struck down the $50 portion of the fee as a “tax on a right.”
Each town that votes to rebate the $150 portion of the fee makes the permit application free.
Want FREE New Jersey Permits to Carry a Handgun in Your Town?
If you would like to approach your town to introduce the idea, or if the town has expressed interest, the exact resolution language and briefing kit can be found here.
