The steps I took to obtain a handgun licence in Schenectady Co.starting Nov.15th 2009.
1.) Decide that I was going to get one after years of putting it off.
2.) Go to the County Clerks Office and pick up the "packet"
2a.)Tell the Mrs. I'm applying for said licence after she sees the "packet" in my underwear drawer.
3.) Call the number listed for the mandatory pistol safety class and get in to the classes for January 5th,6th,and 12th
4.) While waiting I begin to seriously look at different guns to narrow down my choices.
5.) December 20 something I go to my local shop to plunk my money down on a XD-9 and end up going with a Para Ordnance P14-40 (and no,it's not a 16-40.but it 's basically the same)that I had my eye on and fit my hand really nice.
6.) Wait some more.
7.) Attend the classes,NRA basic pistol course,VERY informative.The course is 3 3hour sessions and well worth the time.
8.) Fill out the 1st of three application/fingerprint cards and screw it up.
9.) Go to County Clerks Office and pick up replacement card,grab 2 more "just in case"
10.) Hand out 3 of the 4 character reference forms.
11.) Fill out 5 remaining application/fingerprint cards to get 3 that are correct and neat enough to read.
11a.) Get the 3 forms and a letter to the Judge requesting a permit notarized
12.) Wait untill she appears to be jovial before I mention to the Mrs. that it is reccomended that the spouse be one of the character witnesses and slip the remaining forms in front of her, note abrupt change in demeanor,flinch much like I did shooting my Mosin Nagant for the first time.My reaction to her anticipated reaction makes her laugh and we have a nice discussion and she completes the form right then and there.(SWEET)
13.)Hand her a pre addressed envelope to put the form in once she gets someone to witness it.
14.)Wait for all 4 forms to arrive at the Sheriffs Dept. so I can get fingerprinted.
14a.)One form returned to have the person put his middle name on it instead of just his middle initial.
14.b)5 days later I notice my wife still has the form,I ask and she says her friend won't witness for her because it's for a pistol permit.
14c.)Wait another 9 days for her to find someone to witness the form.(she didn't want to ask just anyone as she didn't want it spread around her workplace that I have a hand gun.she's a teacher and that profession has it's share of left thinkers.I had to respect that.)
15.) Wait 4 days for the form to reach the Sheriffs Office.
16.) Go to the Post office to get the $105.25 money order for the background check.
17.)Got to the Seriffs dept. to get fingerprinted and fill out 2 more forms.
(I notice that another person there has a money order for 115.25 and his forms are on paper rather than cardstock)They call him in next and soon afterward the Deputy comes out and asks to see our forms.He goes in and calls his boss and after a long conversation informs us that the cardstock forms are no good as of the 1st of the year and we needed to go back to the County Clerk and get the new paper ones and that we neede a money order for $115.25 but didn't know if we could just bring an extra one for the $10 increase.Also they are using a new computerized scan system and they have not been trained in how to scan in civilian prints(they use a different program to upload for background checks but if I get everything straightend out I can come in on Tuesday or Wednsday between 12 and 2 the guy on the day shift can do tit or they should be trained by the following Thursday)I leave without turning in anything.
18.) I get off work early (2:30) on Friday and arrive at the County bldg. only to find it closed early for the Presidents day long weekend.
19.) I go during my lunch break on the following Tuesday to pick up the "proper" forms and am told that the forms I have are the correct forms and that the "new" ones were photocopies of the cardstock forms because they ran out, and the money order I had was fine and that they can take cash for the difference.
19a.)I go to the Sheriffs Office(its next to the County bldg.) to try again and the Deputy tells me the computer is down and will be for the rest of the week."Try again next Tuesday"
19b.)Tuesday we are busy as heck and I end up working through my lunch so I don't get to go.
19c.)Tuesday to Wednsday we get slamed with 18" of snow and I spend 14 hours in a plowtruck so I don"t get to go.
20.) Thursday,2/25/10, I make it to the Sherrifs Dept. and everything comes together.Barring any problems I should have my CCW in about 10 weeks.
Jumping through the same hoops. Here in Niagara county the references can't be related to you or each other, which makes the process of collecting character references a total pain. Spouse / family is totally out.
I hope the fact that 2 of my references are brothers(but not my brothers) isn't a problem with mine.
Here you can't have an elected official or a relative(except spouse,who they recommend you use as a reference),.
Haha, that's crazy! Is this for a pistol permit or for a carry permit? I wasn't sure reading it, not knowing the laws over there.
It's for a CCW,but the process for an on premises or during employment is the same.
If you want anything to do with a handgun in New York you have to go through a similar prossess,even more if you're down by the city.
In Putnam the references can be relatives, but the clerk in the County Clerk's office told me the judge prefers if at least half of them are not relative but rather people who have known you for a lot of years. They also don't have to be county or even state residents; the judge rates longevity over residence. I had one relative, and three friends who between them had known me a total of nearly sixty years. The biggest nuisance was getting the NRA pistol course; around here it's only offered once a month and fills up quickly.
Once I had all the i's dotted and t's crossed, I had my permit in three weeks. As I had been expecting it to take a couple or three months, that surprised me no end but I wasn't about to argue with them.
I'd be happy to jump through those hoops to get a concealed carry permit, but no-- I live in Wisconsin, so it's just a NO. NO, citizen, you don't need to protect yourself. Thanks Doyle.
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You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.--Gospel of John 8:32 NRA Member
I recieved a letter this weekend from the County Sherriff stating that he was recommending approval to the Judge.
Now I'm just waiting for her to sign it and I'm good to go.
Took me about 3 months to get mine. Too bad Clinton county puts all those restrictions on it. Carry to and from hunting, target practice, fishing, or trapping only. My father has an unrestricted license he got when we lived in Jefferson county. Too bad I didn't wait until I bought my house..could have moved one county over.
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My greatest fear in life is dying and my wife selling my guns for what I told her I paid for them.
Well,Friday 5/14 was 10 weeks and I am worse than a kid waiting for Christmas!
My buddies took 3 months so I know I have another 2 weeks but a man(kid at Christmas) can hope.
Called the County Clerks office and was told that the person who told me 10-12 weeks was wrong,it's more like 4-5 months.
She did say that everything is complete and waiting for the Judge to sign.
__________________ “Good people do not need laws to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.”
Called the County Clerks office and was told that the person who told me 10-12 weeks was wrong,it's more like 4-5 months.
She did say that everything is complete and waiting for the Judge to sign.
Wow, the judge has had it for 90 days, and needs longer, just for a signature.
In Ga. they only have 64 days to issue, from the time of the application, which normally only takes an hour.
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http://georgiacarry.org/ proud member
Met with the Judge and he said everything is in order and I should be notifide by the County Clerks office within 2 weeks to come down and pick up my permit.
The meeting went well enough and his main concern is storage and the possibility of a break-in and the guns ending up on the street.
__________________ “Good people do not need laws to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.”
