Finally got my License (NYC) -- So many choices!

I used to live (for 21 years) in upstate New York and went thru the process of getting a handgun permit the first year I was there. Since I was moving from Idaho and had no local references, it took a little longer than usual. Fortunately I was associated with the regional police academy thru my employer and found a few cops willing to vouch for me fairly quickly. The process was fairly straightforward after that and took about three months.

I DID NOT LIKE being fingerprinted and having a background check much, since all that had been done previously for my work and there was an added fee and time off work to get the stuff done. However, I never experienced hostility or pettiness from local or state officials in the process or later in buying and registering handguns. Mainly just a PITA. New York handgun laws are old, restrictive, and a serious drag compared to the places I had previously lived (Idaho, WA, Vermont, CA). But they had a certain logic to them.

Then I retired and moved to my home state, California, a state I loved and still love. The handgun laws here have become unbelievably irrational and stupid in the 30-some years I was away. Not especially difficult to acquire and keep handguns, just some really unbelievable regulations--I try to figure out by WHOM and HOW some of these laws were passed and it takes some really twisty logic. Laws like "a horse designed by a committee." The stupidest were brought in under the banner of "consumer protection." I'm all for consumer protection, but when it starts to be applied to firearms, LOOK OUT!
 
Me and my wife have gotten NYC handgun permits as well, it took about 3-4 months for each of us. I also have a rifle/shotgun license. It is not impossible at all, the licensing bureaus are friendly although a little bureaucratic and they will happily answer any and all of your questions and will try to make it easier on you. They will also make you wait a little longer than necessary but they are a government body after all. I think they specifically make you jump through hoops to see how you would react, and to vet people out a little. It's true that it is impossible to get a carry license unless you need it for work but a premise license is very attainable.

Back on topic, I decided on the HK P30 and my wife has a G26. And we can share ammo.
 
Wow, I wish my wife embraced this as well. You've got a good one!

I agree about the people down at Police Plaza...they couldn't be more pleasant to deal with. I too have my rifle license, that was painless (except for the drive out there).

So far I've put 200 rds through my p226 and loving every one!

Now I'm dealing with something else. In order to shoot at a range outside of the city (5 boroughs), I need to get my hunting permit and link it to my pistol license. What a pain! Of course they don't offer the required course in the city.
 
course

Shef:
Of course they don't offer the required course in the city.
Click to expand...

Do you need a hunter safety course? Is that it? If so, the courses are offered in NYC but you'll find them offered more toward the Fall.
Pete
 
You answered your own question when you said the P-226 was the most comfortable.

I visited NYC a few years ago and like the heck out of the city and the people I met there.
 
Shef, this is the first time I heard that you would need to link your hunter's ed course to the permit if you want to shoot at a range outside of the City. I regularly shoot at Mitchell Field Range (on Long Island) and I even called them the first time, the said the NYC handgun permit is sufficient for them. What I think you're confusing it with is if you want to hunt with your handgun (or carry it on hunting grounds), then you would need an explicit authorization from 1 Police Plaza which you will only get after you present them with your hunter's ed course.

And yes, they offer tons of hunter's ed courses in NYC, usually in Sept/Oct months... I missed it last year but will definitely make it to this year's class.
 
Last edited:
I wish I was confusing it with hunting with my handgun (which I'd never do, of course), but I wasn't. That's really what the P.O. told me when I called.
 
I'm guessing you figured out that on a Beretta 92FS the safety acts as a decocker. That is pretty much what I use it for. Once decocked I take the safety off.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Sig 226. It is a proven and reliable design. I always thought Sigs were good looking until the advent of the accessory rail, which looks ugly on all pistols.

Just curious, but is it legal to keep pistol loaded in your home?

Be sure to ask any intruder if they mean you serious bodily injury and if they have the means to inflict said injury before you shoot 'em. :p

I'm just messing as I don't know the laws of NYC, but I always envision a homeowner being forced to watch as an unarmed intruder politely takes all your stuff. ;)
 
It's absolutely legal to keep it locked & loaded in your home. Only when it's being transported does it have to be locked in a case w/ ammo separate.
 
First of all, congratulations!!! You're one of the 4,000 or so premise handgun holders in NYC. That out of 9.5 million. I guess the rest just forgo the whole permitting process and have the handguns illegally.

As far as taking a gun out of the City, NYPD does issue a "hunting" permission that is supposed to allow one to take his firearm afield. However, there's a little flaw in this permission. Namely, article 400 of the NYS Penal Code that explicitly forbids carrying on a "premise" permit. So NYPD invented a new addition to the "premise" permit that is NOT RECOGNIZED by the rest of the State. So please be careful. Theoretically, there could be trouble if you're found with a handgun outside of the City and produce a "premise" permit.

A few years back a fellow was caught in NYC carrying on his "target" permit and the City wanted to railroad him. The judge, however, ruled that the man could not be prosecuted because the "target" permit is a "carry", not a "premise" permit. Therefore no criminal charges could be brought onto this man for carrying outside of his permit restriction. Then NYPD got rid of the "target" permits all together and started issuing only "premises" permits. Carrying on a "premise" permit is a felony. However, to appease hunters they invented this "hunting" authorization that has no legal standing outside of the City limits.

As far as them being "friendly", I have a rifle/shotgun permit and I thought the permitting process was intrusive and oppressive. I felt treated like a criminal without having committed any crime.

I am eagerly awaiting the Westchester County lawsuit to be won so that the City will be forced to abandon its unconstitutional policies.

Again, congrats on your first pistol. If you're interested, there's a great New York hometown section on ar15.com. Can be found here:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=8&f=9

There's always a lot of discussion of local issues and the folks are very knowledgeable.
 
It sounds like a similar situation to Australian handgunners.

I would suggest buying a new, full sized and expensive gun because you won't be owning too many handguns. If you are going full-sized then I'd probably go for a calibre larger than 9mm. Buy what appeals to you.
 
May I suggest P-210?

One can own many handguns in NYC. However, every one you purchase needs a separate "purchasing authorization" that requires an additional trip downtown and I believe an additional fee, not to mention a waiting period. Then, once you buy a handgun, you have to go back downtown and put it on your permit. It's a lot of hassle.
 
I agree, it's a hassle, but it only takes me 20 min to get downtown from my office....so it's not terrible. The thing is, with the first purchase authorization, you don't need to specifiy which model you're buying. With all the additional ones, you need to tell them in advance which one it is. Then it takes 4-6 weeks for them to approve the authorization. Oh well, it is what it is.

If you didn't see this article, worth a quick read.
 
Shef said:
So I have 28 days to buy my handgun. I've tried a bunch so far but I'm still having a hard time deciding.

What I've tried so far:
P226 9mm
P228 9mm
P229 9mm
Glock 22
Kimber 1911
92FS
CZ75
HK USP .45
Springfield XD
Click to expand...

Llamas and Rugers and Baers, oh my! :D

I don't have much input on the guns you've selected, but wanted to congratulate you on getting your permit.
 
naw

You must know some influencial people
Click to expand...

Naw. You apply. You pay your money. Get fingerprinted. Then you wait. And wait. Then you wait some more. If you are not a felon, have no orders of protection against you, et cetera......you get a permit.
It's expensive and it takes time, that's all.
Pete
 
As far as NYC, I think a lot of folks from out of town are confusing a premise license with a CCW license. The premise license is not that hard to get, a pain in the rear maybe, but not hard. The wait times have gone down as of the last 6-8 months. Some speculate because of the recent SCOTUS decsion and the recent Westchester case that Mayor Mike is trying to avoid any legal case against the city.
Now, to get the CCW license in NYC that is where you need to be politically connected, be a famous celebrity, have a ton of cash or all of the above. Even then you have to jump through hoops. Hopefully, if things go well in the next year or so with cases currently in the courts now, things may change for the better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top