Gun Rights (and wrongs)

Today we will be discussing the issue of firearms rights in the United States of America.
I am a gun enthusiast, and enjoy going to the range with friends and family, as well as the peace of mind that comes from knowing that I am able to protect my household should the need arise.  My wife, while less of an enthusiast, is no stranger to firearms and is quite comfortable and capable with them.
My issue stems not from the fact that I can protect my house, but the fact that in the state I currently reside (New Jersey) I can only protect my house.  NJ offers no form of carry, open or concealed, to the majority of it's citizenship.  To my knowledge, only the District of Columbia and New York are as restrictive as New Jersey when it comes to gun rights.  As anecdotal evidence, I give you the following story:
In the process of trying to purchase guns in New Jersey, there were several steps I had to take.  First I had to apply for a Firearms ID Card.  This would allow me to purchase rifles and shotguns, as well as ammunition.  I should clarify that without this card, you are not even allowed to be shown a gun in NJ.  I concurrently applied for two Pistol Purchase Permits.  This is a separate application (with it's own fee) that would allow me to purchase hand guns in this fascist regime...sorry...state.  I applied for two because the wait time for these forms to be processed was rumored to be in excess of two months, which turned out to be true, since I got mine back almost two months to the day after I applied.  I'm unsure what took so long, as I'm a military veteran with barely as much as a speeding ticket on my record, never been arrested, never lived out of the country, and always paid my taxes.  After receiving their gracious blessing to go forth and shoot things, I would be limited to purchasing one hand gun per 30 day period, for reasons that have yet to be sufficiently explained to me.  In the meantime, my father, who lives in Washington state, purchased two handguns, a rifle, and ordered a third handgun in the months that it took me to acquire permission to purchase anything!
I suppose I should be grateful that I'm even allowed to posses firearms in this day and age of fear-mongering, where guns are the enemy, not those who use them.  However, it seems silly to so closely limit the possession of firearms by your law-abiding citizenry, since they aren't usually the ones you need to worry about.  Do you really think that the gang bangers walking around the projects care that it's illegal to carry a gun around?  Do you suppose the home invader is worried that the gun he is carrying wasn't purchased with a "Pistol Purchase Permit"?  And finally, do you think the criminals will be more, or less likely to perpetrate holdups and other armed robbery-type crimes when they know almost for certain that the law-abiding citizen they are accosting does not have a means to defend themselves?  My guess is they feel pretty safe doing so in NJ.  In summation: I'm leaving New Jersey just as soon as I am reasonably able.
I leave you with this final thought: A wise man once said: "If you criminalize guns, only the criminals will have guns."
Until next time,
Evan