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Waiting for my pistol license

unarmed in westchester

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2008
Messages
39
Location
, New York, USA
imported post

Hi all! My name is Mike and i have just registered as a member of this site. I read about it recently in a newspaper article. I checked it out and i am hooked! I find this site to be very informative and interesting.

I have read other members posts about New York State gun laws, which really get my attention. I have wanted to apply for a pistol license for quite some time, but never got around to it until a few months ago. I got my application from the County, filled it out and got all of my references. I then made my appointment to submit my paperwork (got an appointment a month or so after calling), took the day off from work and met with a Detective. He went over my paperwork and then fingerprinted me and i was out the door less than an hour later. That was on May 28 and it is now September 2 and i have not heard a thing. By the way, i applied for target/hunting only as i was told it is nearly impossible to receive a full carry in this liberal county.

Also, in the great county of Westchester, you must have a serial number from a handgun to put on your paperwork. This meant that i had to put money down ona gun that i wouldnt see for months to come. It is my understanding that in most counties, you hand in your application, then you receive your license (if all goes well) and then you purchase a handgun, which makes much more sense to me.

On a side note, my fiance is from Vermont and we spend alot of time up there. I was there this weekend and went into several gun shops with my soon to be father-in-law. I was able to handle a number of handguns, no questions asked. My father-in-law, as a Vermont resident, could have purchased a handgun and walked out with it after a background check. We then went back to the house, where we set up some targets in the backyardand fired away with a 40 cal. for a half hour or so without worrying about neighbors or the police.

Sorry that my first post was such a long one, just wanted to share what i am going through and vent a bit.

Stay safe!
 

DT4E31

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2007
Messages
122
Location
, New York, USA
imported post

It generally takes at least 3-4 months for the prints to come back. I suggest that the summer time is when most people take vacations etc, and so perhaps your paperwork has been sitting around longer than usual. (not making excuses for the delay, just applying some logic to the delay) I would call and ask about the status of the license application if I was you.
 

redlegagent

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Messages
201
Location
, , Tajikistan
imported post

They have up to 6 months under the law to process the permit. Some counties are slower than others, summertime doesn't help. Part of the delay is the FBI check which is part of the process. The fastest I've ever seen a permit go thru is 90days but 4-5 months is usual. You should hear something soon. ;)
 

Statkowski

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2006
Messages
1,141
Location
Cherry Tree (Indiana County), Pennsylvania, USA
imported post

Move to Vermont, or move to Pennsylvania. In Vermont you won't need a license at all to purchase or carry a firearm, and in Pennsylvania all you need a license for is to carry concealed. Left New York a long, long time ago, and never looked back.
 

unarmed in westchester

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2008
Messages
39
Location
, New York, USA
imported post

Thanks guys for your replies, they are much appreciated! This is exactly why i decided to join the forums so that i can get advise from knowledgable people.

I actually received a letter from the County Clerk a week or so ago which advised me to call upon receiving the letter. I called and was told to come down to the Clerks office to finish the process. I went down that day and got my pistol license (target/hunting). It was a huge relief to have the license and all in all, the wait wasnt so bad (3 1/2 months or so).

However, i then ran into another bump in the road. While waiting to receive my license, the gun that i had put a deposit on was somehow sold :X. Apparently, the salesman i dealt with no longer worked there and failed to leave a note stating that that particular gun was on hold.

I then went back to the County Clerks office the following day (25-30 muinute drive) to file ammendment papers. The gun dealer had another gun for me and i had to pretty much state that i sold the gun back to the dealership and file the ammendment to put the serial number of the new gun on my paperwork. After completing the paperwork, i was told that they would send me my new license & official purchase slip in the mail & i would not have to return to the office. However, when i asked how long it would take, i was told 2-4 weeks! When i asked how come so long, i was told that a judge would have to review the paperwork, although i had already been issued a license, signed by a judge! Oh well, just another waiting process, so no surprise there.
 

Gunslinger

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
3,853
Location
Free, Colorado, USA
imported post

3 1/2 months...The longest I ever waited for a CCW was 3 weeks, except my last one as a MA Non-res. That took two months, but only because they were reissuing all FIDs for residents. They even (State Police handle non-res) apologized for the delay. It took 3 weeks in VA; 2 days in NH, resident, 2 weeks non-res, and 2 weeks here in CO. And these weren't permits to even own a pistol, but Concealed Carry licenses. New York--no thanks.
 

SlackwareRobert

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
1,338
Location
Alabama, ,
imported post

If you can live without said gun shop. Then sue them for breach of contract,
then settle for the best gun in the shop.
Did this on a 550cc motorcycle, that they then sold by mistake. Got a nice
750cc yamaha for same price insted.

At least have them throw in a case of ammo for the loss of time, and safety,
possible endagerment if the buyer then robs someone with your serial numbered
piece.:uhoh:

Maybe make the state explain why they issued two licences for the same serial
number. But don't raise the issue till after you get the new one......

But I know what you are going through, had several guns tied up in neighboring
MA for years. You would think that a permit to remove them from thier state
would be a fast track, but I guess they only want them destroyed.
Seems to me they are safer in my hands than locked in a storage shed, where anyone could steal them without my knowledge.
 

unarmed in westchester

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2008
Messages
39
Location
, New York, USA
imported post

Thanks everyone for your replies.

SlackwareRobert...I was quite pissed when i learned that thegun that i had put a deposit on was sold. I was even more pissed when i had to make several trips to the County Clerks office to ammend my license and then wait almost 2 extra weeks to get my new licence.

I was all ready to "go after" the dealer and try and get them on breech of contract and what have you.

However, during several conversations with the dealer, i spoke to the part-owner (the shop is owned by a husband and wife), and she was very appologetic. She even tried to help by contacting the Clerks office herself to see if paperwork could be faxed, rather than me driving back and forth (which couldnt be done). They knew that their shop screwed up and essentially screwed me.

When i went in to pick up my gun, the owners' son was also very appologetic and admitted to their at fault. For my troubles, he threw in an extra magazine (retaills for about $25), so that was cool of him.

Aside from my troubles, i would most definately do business with them in the future.
 

geolopez73

New member
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
3
Location
Yonkers, New York, USA
imported post

Ahh yes PA, Anyway yonkers is not too bad,got my permit in 4 months.Its when you get you sixth gun is when they have to come to your house to make sure that your safe garding your weapons.What pisses me off is why i cant work with my permit in NYC as an armed guard,my permit says state of new york westchester county,but if somone with an NYC permitcould work as an armed guard in westchester just fine,i dont get that, I have to apply for a new permit for NYC go through the hole backround check again and wait more time than it would take in westchester just so i can work with an amended permit that says employment on it. Ive already worked in westchester as an armed guard befor but if i wanted to work in NYC its a hole new licence.WTF
 

stamour547

New member
Joined
Dec 8, 2010
Messages
1
Location
NY
Don't get it

Hey guys, I don't get why it takes so long for everyone to get permits here on NY. I do know and realize that every county is different but I applied for my permit last year and from start to finish it only took me about 3 weeks. Also I do know that my county (Hamilton) is easier than some to get a permit but it shouldn't be that hard. As I said, 3 weeks start to finish and that is for a fully unrestricted permit. For the most part, not questions asked. Just my .02.

-Justin
 

Statkowski

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2006
Messages
1,141
Location
Cherry Tree (Indiana County), Pennsylvania, USA
Still waiting for permission to purchase a gun, are we? Well, it's only going on four months now.

My last gun purchase took all of five minutes, with no permission slip.

Ever think of writing to your elected representatives to fix the problem?

I'm glad I moved to Pennsylvania many, many years ago. Even gladder that I don't live in New York, place of my birth.
 

Danny-L

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2010
Messages
14
Location
, ,
Alot depends on the judge,if you have an anti gun judge they tend to make you wait til the last minute to sign your permit no matter how long it sat on thier desk,I got mine 11 years ago it took axactly 6months for me to have it in my hand and we still have the same anti county judge today.
 
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