Posted on 05/05/2010 7:03:11 AM PDT by neverdem
Oswego County Clerk George Williams delivered some startling news to the legislature’s Community and Consumer Affairs committee during the April 22 meeting.
Pistol permit applications have increased sharply, following both a state and national trend, he noted. “Something is happening in this country,” Williams added.
During the entire year of 2008, the county clerk’s office handed out 208 pistol permit application packets. Of those, 67 were returned. For 2009, 428 application packets were handed out and 110 were returned.
As of the date of the committee meeting, 400 application packets were given out and 142 have been returned. That is more than double the number of pistol permits issued for 2008. “Something’s on the move,” Williams said, adding that other county clerks in the state are seeing the same trend. “It’s scary.”
Legislator Louella LeClair said she didn’t feel it is scary, but rather American’s choosing their rights. “I think patriotism is back,” she said.
“Well, they’re testing the second amendment, that’s for sure,” Williams quipped.
The rise in pistol permits is a national trend with media outlets reporting that some of the people securing permits do not own guns.
According to news reports, between Jan. 1 and June 15, 2009, there were 194 pistol permits issued in Ulster County—a 15.5-percent increase over the 168 issued during the same period in 2008. Dutchess County saw a 19.2-percent increase for that same time period.
The state of Virginia has reportedly seen a 40-percent rise in gun permits and Florida reportedly had to hire additional employees to handle the applications, which are said to have more than doubled in a six-month period.
Gun rights organizations, some politicians, and some residents see a correlation between the election of President Barack Obama and the increase in pistol permits. Obama, with his support for gun bans, may have prompted concern among Americans that they may lose one of their rights, Williams said after the meeting.
Owning a handgun in New York State requires the applicant be over age 21, of good moral character with no conviction of a serious offense, and suffer no mental illness. The applicants also must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of the county of application for at least six months.
The application asks why the person is seeking permission to own a handgun and a series of questions designed to help the licensing official determine whether the applicant is of good moral character.
Four character references must be provided and they are checked either by telephone call or personal visit from someone in law enforcement.
The Oswego County Sheriff’s Department will fingerprint and photograph the applicant, and if all the criteria is met, a county judge will issue the permit following a review of all the information.
Until recently, the wait time between application and issuance of a pistol permit was approximately 26 weeks. Those now filing in Oswego County will find the application process is moving at a faster pace. “We’ve been working with the sheriff’s department very closely,” Williams told the committee.
Sheriff Reuel “Moe” Todd has installed a “live scan” fingerprint machine that has cut the wait time down by approximately 20 weeks. In the past, the fingerprints had to be mailed to the FBI in Washington, D.C., Williams explained. Currently, the wait time is down to a matter of minutes or hours as the information is gathered electronically.
Williams announced that Sheriff Todd will be holding another amnesty program. Residents may bring unregistered guns to the sheriff’s department where they are checked to be sure they aren’t stolen or used to commit a crime.
If the guns are clear, the owner can chose to sell, give, or take the gun.
Williams said the majority of the guns the county sees are from World War II and have been in attics for some time. The gun owners are often deceased and the remaining family members aren’t sure of how to dispose of the weapon, Williams noted.
I wonder if the author is confusing shall issue concealed carry licenses in PA and FL with simple ownership permits in NY?
And the people are beginning to realize it is happening to them.
Why are permits even needed.
I know I read that permit bit in horror.
Bad enough here that you have to have a license for concealed, but a permit to own? That has to be unconstitutional.
I know people in Steuben county, NY, and they said when they went for their pistol permits, the lady who waited on them said the place has been extremely busy this year. They've never seen so many people.
In my opinion, people know things without being able to logically explain how they "Just know." People are preparing for....something. They can sense it.
Yes, there is certainly an undercurrent buzzing. I can’t explain it myself, but I feel it and I sense others do as well. Just a general unease.
This story is a crock.
NY is one of the worst when it comes to exercising a RIGHT.
1. You must go to your local sheriff office on Tuesday or Thursday ONLY between 9 and 11 AM and pick up a package
2. You must get 4 affidavits signed by friends of yours which asks questions that invite them to say things against you. Each of these people must sign and mail from their own hand...you may not collect them and bring them in they must go by mail. The package is reviewed by the Sheriff’s office and then sent together to the Judges office.
3. You must pay for a Drivers Rip from the DMV of NY and send it in.
4. You must get fingerprinted 5 times and send all cards in.
5. You must answer a questionnaire much like the ones your friends did.
6. You must get a Postal Money Order for $74.00 as it is the ONLY form of payment, money is not legal tender in this case and a bank or personal check will not be accepted.
7. Once all items are collected they are to be sent in for review. That review does not start until the 4 questionnaires sent in are all there. THEN this is all reviewed together and recommendation is sent with all of it to a judge.
8. That Judge THEN gets to take 5 months and 29 days to issue or decline. If declined he or she must give you the reason in writing.
Problems: Many
1. If you use personal protection as a reason the judges many times DECLINE you saying you do not have a need regardless of the law clearly not allowing them to do so. The judges often put “For target and hunting only” on the outer portion of the permit though there is no provision in the law to do so. They back each other up on this if it is challenged. Other judges cite “precedent” which is a liberal leftists favorite thing because it skirts the will of the people and the intent of the laws they get passed.
2. If something is missing the Sheriff does not tell you as they are NOT required. It could sit for years.
3. You may be required to come in for an interview…that is BS as they have nothing in the law requiring it or saying they can but a judge simply says it is a “reasonable” request.
NY is a police state when it comes to this RIGHT…It is NOT a right in that state no matter what you are told. Many people have judges come to them by way of the sheriff’s office to take your guns if you have any kind of case against you. That is an assumption of guilt borne out of singular cases where someone did use their gun in an act of passion so all of us get painted with this “reasonable” line of garbage.
The people of the county are simple exercising their right and many more people have moved into that county and thus it is “reasonable” that there is an up-tic in the number of applications to beg the master for a pre-existing right.
New York and Rhode Island are two states that absolutely will not issue an LTC to anyone who lives in another state, has a permit, and wants to go to either state on occasion. I do not go to or do any business with either state.
Just try and get a permit to OWN a pistol in any of the New York Metropolitan Area counties (NYMA). It ain’t happening unless you know the judge or are related to a town official.
All this is contingent on the judge in your county. There are NO PUBLISHED RULES advising applicants. It is different from county to county and judge to judge. One of the many reasons why people and businesses have been fleeing NY for any years.
BTW, most state officials ar packin’. But you can’t. Feds too, including anti-gun zealot Sen Up Chuck Chucky.
“NY is one of the worst when it comes to exercising a RIGHT.
1. You must go to your local sheriff office on Tuesday or Thursday ONLY between 9 and 11 AM and pick up a package
2. You must get 4 affidavits signed by friends of yours which asks questions that invite them to say things against you. Each of these people must sign and mail from their own hand...you may not collect them and bring them in they must go by mail. The package is reviewed by the Sheriff’s office and then sent together to the Judges office.
3. You must pay for a Drivers Rip from the DMV of NY and send it in.
4. You must get fingerprinted 5 times and send all cards in.
5. You must answer a questionnaire much like the ones your friends did.
6. You must get a Postal Money Order for $74.00 as it is the ONLY form of payment, money is not legal tender in this case and a bank or personal check will not be accepted.
7. Once all items are collected they are to be sent in for review. That review does not start until the 4 questionnaires sent in are all there. THEN this is all reviewed together and recommendation is sent with all of it to a judge.
8. That Judge THEN gets to take 5 months and 29 days to issue or decline. If declined he or she must give you the reason in writing.
Problems: Many
1. If you use personal protection as a reason the judges many times DECLINE you saying you do not have a need regardless of the law clearly not allowing them to do so. The judges often put “For target and hunting only” on the outer portion of the permit though there is no provision in the law to do so. They back each other up on this if it is challenged. Other judges cite “precedent” which is a liberal leftists favorite thing because it skirts the will of the people and the intent of the laws they get passed.
2. If something is missing the Sheriff does not tell you as they are NOT required. It could sit for years.
3. You may be required to come in for an interview…that is BS as they have nothing in the law requiring it or saying they can but a judge simply says it is a “reasonable” request.”
I had to do all that when I first moved there. Alot of it depends on what county you live in. Some counties are easier than others. In my county they recently started issuing unrestricted permits but only if you have had a restricted permit for over 10 years.
What a lie. They pull the ten year thing right out of their behind. As if it matters. What I have to now demonstrate for you for ten years? What a precedent setting lie...but that's what they want a precedent to then strip you further. ITS NOT IN THE LAW...Its illegal, they know it but we do not fight it. I blame us much of the time. While I am willing I have no funds and the NRA is actually weak on this at times.
Breaking:
Lastest MSM news template:
Terrorist possessed a gun!
MSM will call for more gun control laws to prevent further such victims of mortgage problems being upset and having the gun go off and killing people. sarc..
NY police chief: bomb suspect bought gun in Conn.
(AP) – 58 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — New York’s police commissioner says Times Square bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad purchased a gun in Connecticut in March.
Commissioner Raymond Kelly told a Senate hearing Wednesday that Shahzad took the gun with him when he drove to the airport to board a flight to Dubai.
Kelly and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg told the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that they support legislation to make it more difficult for suspected terrorists to buy guns.
Investigators have said a gun was discovered in the car Shahzad left at the airport.
1. Some counties (Chautauqua) has a pistol permit office.
3. Was not necessary for me.
4. Some counties have a computer that reads it digitally, no need to get fingerprinted off-site.
6. Personal checks were accepted in my county of application.
You are absolutely right about a lot of it, including the tone - New York is virulently anti-freedom. I just want to make sure others know that it is not as bad as it seems in the more rural counties. Clearly your county makes things as inconvenient as possible.
This is not true. Some counties in New York will, under certain circumstances. Chautauqua County will issue a permit if you own a business or work in the county. I know, as I am a PA resident with a valid NY CCW. See this thread, where this was also verified via a phone call.
Also take a look at Assembly Bill 3344's Justification:
Although non-residents of New York State are not precluded from being licensed to possess a gun in New York State, the process is hampered in part by language that encourages a permit applicant to make such application in the county where he/she is a resident. Furthermore, there is no central registry for out-of-state license holders allowing for inconsistent registry information depending upon the county that processed the application.
While it hasn't (and isn't likely to) passed, it's interesting that the lawmaker who authored it recognizes that there is no blanket ban on nonresident NY CCWs, although most counties interpret it as such.
I appreciate your reply and should have made the caveat on it. Obviously in the up-state well past Albany and their slimy politicians there is a reasonable approach that is not nazi-over-the-top stupid. Out near Ft. Drum and such as well as a lot of Western NY. My area, includes anything Saratoga and south to the City as well as out to Elmira. The judges are NOT the authority...the Assembly is and they law is, but the Judges have set themselves up as the person with “the power” and as such its a monster not easily put back in its rightful cage.
Absolutely right, it’s terrible the amount of power is in the hands of the few in New York, but that’s how the liberals design their ecosystems.
As was pointed out in the thread I linked in one of my previous posts, the judge in the county that I applied in is an avid hunter, and even hunts with pistols, so there is a turnaround of fewer than two months, which is very nice.
It still doesn’t beat my 4 business day turnaround for my Pennsylvania LTCF, however.
Personal experience. I am a certified MA State Police and NRA instructor with a spotless record. RI simply told me to get lost after I applied. When I called to speak to an actual person, a toadie in the Attorney General's office replied that they 'would not issue me a permit, period. Get lost.' As for NY, I tried to go through a county sheriff, who told me 'NY does not issue permits to out-of-staters. Period. Get lost.' Apparently our experiences differ.
Wait, are you a LEO or a LEO instructor?
If you are a LEO, HR 218 will apply to you.
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