I have lived in WA state most of my life and about 2 years ago, I had to move to NY state for family reasons.
I knew NY state was one of the toughest states for firearms owners but I had no idea how much BS you had to wade through to obtain a pistol permit. Mind you, this is not even to conceal carry. This is a permit, just to be able to purchase a handgun.
1. You must request an application package via mail. Can't just print it out as that would be too convenient.
2. Obtain 4 character references (2 in your county and 2 anywhere else). So basically if you just moved to the state and don't know anyone, you are pretty much screwed.
3. Take a safety course (4 hour course on a Saturday). This I don't really mind as I have seen some folks that don't know which end the bullet comes out of.
4. Submit your application along with your course completion cert. You have to bring it downtown to the pistol permit office in person, again because just mailing it in would be too convenient.
5. Get finger printed at local PD or office they designate for you.
6. Interview with local PD (6 months, yes, 6 months after my app was submitted). Mine was done via phone but I hear some PDs actually come to your house.
7. After the 4 character references are checked by the local PD, the application is sent back to the Pistol Permit office to be prepped for a review by a Judge.
8. After the Judge approves it, the pistol permit office sends you a letter allowing you to go to the store and purchase a gun. The store will issue you a purchase coupon, which you will take back to the pistol permit office and they issue you the permit with the pistol information on it (rinse and repeat if you purchase multiple). You now take the permit to the store and pick up the gun.
Now, my application has been sitting at the Pistol Permit office for about 6 months now waiting to go in front of a Judge, where it will probably sit for another 6 months...
So far, I have 13 months in to this process and will probably be another 3-4 months before I get my permit.
I did put in for a conceal carry or Unrestricted as they call it but I know that will get turned down as 99% of them do and get a restricted permit. Will have to put in for an upgrade months down the road and that will probably take another year to process.
Be thankful you live in a free state (or somewhat free to some)
I knew NY state was one of the toughest states for firearms owners but I had no idea how much BS you had to wade through to obtain a pistol permit. Mind you, this is not even to conceal carry. This is a permit, just to be able to purchase a handgun.
1. You must request an application package via mail. Can't just print it out as that would be too convenient.
2. Obtain 4 character references (2 in your county and 2 anywhere else). So basically if you just moved to the state and don't know anyone, you are pretty much screwed.
3. Take a safety course (4 hour course on a Saturday). This I don't really mind as I have seen some folks that don't know which end the bullet comes out of.
4. Submit your application along with your course completion cert. You have to bring it downtown to the pistol permit office in person, again because just mailing it in would be too convenient.
5. Get finger printed at local PD or office they designate for you.
6. Interview with local PD (6 months, yes, 6 months after my app was submitted). Mine was done via phone but I hear some PDs actually come to your house.
7. After the 4 character references are checked by the local PD, the application is sent back to the Pistol Permit office to be prepped for a review by a Judge.
8. After the Judge approves it, the pistol permit office sends you a letter allowing you to go to the store and purchase a gun. The store will issue you a purchase coupon, which you will take back to the pistol permit office and they issue you the permit with the pistol information on it (rinse and repeat if you purchase multiple). You now take the permit to the store and pick up the gun.
Now, my application has been sitting at the Pistol Permit office for about 6 months now waiting to go in front of a Judge, where it will probably sit for another 6 months...
So far, I have 13 months in to this process and will probably be another 3-4 months before I get my permit.
I did put in for a conceal carry or Unrestricted as they call it but I know that will get turned down as 99% of them do and get a restricted permit. Will have to put in for an upgrade months down the road and that will probably take another year to process.
Be thankful you live in a free state (or somewhat free to some)
