first-time buyer -- questions about NYC laws & where to buy.
Hi.
I live in New York, one of the stricter anti-gun cities.
I'd like to purchase a handgun for self-defense. I've had the occasional run-in, but last night affected someone else. My girlfriend called me up as she was coming off the train station, four blocks from our house -- she was being harassed by some typical crackhead/rapist, and didn't tell me what the F was going on: "Leave quickly!", and that was it. My brother and I thought there was a group of idiots out there (my neighborhood is a bit notorious for that), so we grabbed the knives, and ran out. Luckily for us, and perhaps for the culprit, he was gone by then. That was the end of it.
Regardless, I'd like to stop taking chances. I'm not much of a fan of weaponry or violence, but I'd rather not get stabbed at night. So, I have decided to buy a gun for me and my girlfriend, and have a few questions (I am 20 years old, by the way):
1) I was looking at some online stores. Which one is the best ?
2) What is a dependable, inexpensive beginner's gun, with little recoil ? Remember, this is not for show; just a self-defense tool I will hopefully never have to use.
3) I obviously cannot get a "concealed carry" permit in New York City. At the same time, I do plan on fully registering it, with all the permits required, etc., for at-home use. I also plan on taking it outside with me occasionally, depending on where I'm going (e.g., coming home late at night on the subway; walking long distances at night). I have no criminal history, am well-regarded in the community & university, etc. -- knowing all of that, what would be the penalty if I do get stopped and discovered in New York City ? Although I don't think that will ever be a problem, as I've never been stopped once, anywhere, I'd still like to know the risks.
You will need to get a residence permit or perhaps a target permit. J Jovino is where you will actually get your pistol/revolver after the PD has issued you your purchase order months after starting the process and spending a lot of money. Basically you are screwed living in NYC.
3) I obviously cannot get a "concealed carry" permit in New York City. At the same time, I do plan on fully registering it, with all the permits required, etc., for at-home use. I also plan on taking it outside with me occasionally, depending on where I'm going (e.g., coming home late at night on the subway; walking long distances at night). I have no criminal history, am well-regarded in the community & university, etc. -- knowing all of that, what would be the penalty if I do get stopped and discovered in New York City ? Although I don't think that will ever be a problem, as I've never been stopped once, anywhere, I'd still like to know the risks.
Thank you !
Sloth,
I live in NY, about 35 minutes north of NYC. I have my pistol license, which is restricted to Sportsman/Residence. Basically, I can carry under 5 circumstances. Hunting, Fishing, Target Shooting, Camping, and Hiking. However, it is a concealed carry permit. I'm also restricted from carrying in NYC. I'm not sure how the license process works in the city, but I believe that any license you get in NY is a concealed carry license. Aside from that, I doubt you are going to find anyone on this board that would advocate carrying any firearm illegally. I would think that the risks of doing so are pretty much standard- Sharing a prison cell with real criminals, who think you have a real pretty mouth...(cue banjo music...)
Last edited by littlejoe872; 01-01-2008 at 08:21 PM.
I could not live in a place that denied me my right to defend myself and loved ones. instead they (NYC) proctect to criminals.
+2
Its very diff to get a concealed carry permit in NYC. Not impossible, but very difficult. If you don't feel safe, move as stated above, and if thats not an alternative, maybe have you and your girlfriend take some self defense classes....
The city-state of NYC has even more restrictive rules on hnadgun ownership and carriage than the rest of the Peoples Democratic Republic of New York. Assuming you meet all the other requirements, once you move to somewhere like Suffolk, Orange, Rockland, Westchester or Putnam Counties, here's how the process goes.
You have to go to the county courthouse and see the County Clerk. There, you get the application form for a pistol permit. You fill it out IN BLACK INK. No joke; one bit of blue ink on it and they will reject it out of hand. You have a pile of requirements to fulfill. Here's the stuff they ask for.
You have to be over 21. Under that age, no chance, period.
You have to list every address you've lived at for the last 15 years.
you have to have a valid reason for wanting the permit. Hunting, target shooting and home defense are all valid reasons.
You may not be any of the following: a convicted felon; an illegal alien; a person who has ever had a restraining order put on them; a person ever convicted of a domestic violence misdemenor; a dishonorably discharged serviceman or -woman; a person ever committed to a mental hospital; or a criminal on the run from the law.
You have to have completed an NRA Pistol Course. Most of the gun shops offer the course once a month.
You have to have four(4) people as personal references. They may be relatives or friends or business associates. They will have to sign your form as well.
You will have to have a background check run.
You will have to have your fingerprints taken.
That's the application form. Now for the rest of the chicken**** you have to go through if you want to exercise your Second Amendment rights with a handgun.
As previously noted, you must pass the NRA Pistol course. This will cost you $100 or more.
They want six passport-type photos taken within 30 days of the application. This will cost you about $35.
You will have to provide an addressed, stamped envelope for each of your references. The Sheriff's Department will take care of putting the appropriate forms asking about your background and character into them for you.
You must bring your original certificate of course completion for the pistol course when you go to submit your forms. The Sheriff's Department will make copies of it; they don't want you to make them for them. They do want to see the original certificate.
You have to pay for the background check to be run. That's $105 and change, and furthermore must be paid ONLY with a postal money order, amde out just so. This money allegedly is what the FBI charges to run background checks on prospective handgun owners. You can believe as much of that as you want.
You may or may not have to pay to have your fingerprints taken during normal business hours at the County Sheriff's office (my county doesn't charge for that). They will want your application to be notarized, and they will want their notary to do it. Some will charge $15 for that service (mine didn't).
So just to get to the point where you can submit your application, you have spent about $250 and have had to take at least one day off work, because they won't process you in on a weekend.
After the Sheriff's Department accepts your paperwork, you have a wait of up to four months before you hear whether or not you have been approved.
When you are approved, you must go to the County Clerk's office again during normal working hours to pick up your permit. The permit you will receive will be for Hunting & Target only, not concealed carry.
To upgrade to CCW, you must write the Sheriff a letter and request that your permit be upgraded. No money is involved. The Sheriff will look your letter over and forward it to the County Judge. The judge will eventually contact you and ask you to come in for an interview face to face. I'm led to understand that he is in essence looking you over to make sure you aren't a menace to society but rather an upstanding citizen. If he okays it, you then get your CCW permit.
You get one pistol registered for free to your permit when it is first issued. Every pistol over and above that first one requires a 'coupon' and the judge's okay, which is pro forma. You also have to pay $3.00 for each additional pistol to be added to your permit, and each one requires a trip to the County Clerk's office again, for they will only allow you to register one at a time. Each pistol must have a bill of sale before they will add it on. The usual procedure is to buy it, and the gun shop will hold it for you until it's added on to your permit. The County Clerk will give you a coupon certifying it has been added to your permit, which you givde to the gun shop. At this point you fill out the usual firearms purchase paperwork and they run their NCIS check, and then you can take it home.
In short, the State of New York makes anyone who wants to own and carry a pistol jump through a lot of hoops in order to do so legally. That's the difference between living in a "may issue" state like New York and a "must issue" state like Texas. I'm told that in the "must issue" CCW permit states, the process of obtaining your CCW has similar requirements, but it is faster, easier and does not cost nearly as much.
I'd consider some type of .38 or .357 (can shoot .38 rounds in it) fixed sight 3 or 4" barrel revolver. Whether it was shorter or longer barrel would depend on its primary purpose; if CCW then shorter barrel -- if home/car defense then longer barrel.
Ruger makes some excellent revolvers (sp-101; GP-100). Smith with the 442/642 for snubs and has good revolver selection. Taurus also has good revolvers but at lower cost (you can visit their website at taurus firearms). This might fit the bill for the price range you specified.
Good luck.
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