Pistol Permit Application

Well, now that I am no longer an LEO, it is about time that I apply for my NYS Pistol License. I have 8 pistols that I had best get on the license. Of course, LEOSA would allow me to carry in all 50 states without the requirement of a license but in essence only those handguns that were of the same type used by me on the job. I guess that would cover my Glock 26 and my 3 Beretta 92 series pistols (especially because I actually did use all 4 of them on the job) but LEOSA probably would not cover my Ruger MKII, my Ortgies, My Beretta 70S or my S&W Model 17-8. Yep, I had best get that license application in to my county PD. I will probably have it handed in on Monday, once I have a few pages of it notarized. I could have applied for the license right after I retired in November but held off because of health issues. Now that I am much more up to getting such things done, it is time to get this particular thing done.

With that end in mind, I picked up my "Good Guy Letter" from my old place of employment today. It was nice to get out, then to see a bunch of my buddies in the office and to have lunch with a few of them. I got to visit with a bunch of good folks I have not seen in all to long. As for the "Good Guy Letter" it is basically a reference letter explaining how long I was an LEO, that I never had problems leading to my firearms being confiscated on the job, and so on. It was signed by the Agent in Charge of the office in which I worked in NYC. Now that I have gotten that, it is pretty much a green light for me to get everything together and then bring it to the police department. if all goes well, I understand I will have the pistol license within a couple to a few weeks. Luckily for me, the $200 license fee is waived but I do still pay the just under $95 fingerprint fee. I know it takes much longer for those of us who were not an LEO and it costs a lot more and I realize that sucks. I think it takes up to 6 months or so.

I am not trying to blow my horn and say how great it is for me to have the process sped up or cost less, I am just relaying the facts that I was told about the process relative to a former LEO's application. I have to say, I think a fee of $200 is way too high as I think a wait of several months is way too long. Heck, I do not believe that people should be required to obtain a license or a permit to be able to carry a handgun and that is one of the reasons I am a life member of the NRA and of the New York State Rifle And Pistol Association. But, that is my opinion and obviously not the same as many other voters who live here in NYS. Yet, there seems to be a growing population of those who think like me along these lines here in NY. If so then laws may ease up a bit someday in the not too distant future.

It will be nice to have the license if and when it gets approved. I feel something is missing when I walk down the street while not carrying. I guess that is due to the fact that I had carried a pistol for so long it is a truly just a strange feeling to be out and about without one. Having the right tool, such as in when you may need to defend yourself or your family, is always a good feeling too. Well, hopefully all that will be remedied soon.

I have to say that the folks in my county's police department have been nothing but courteous and helpful. That is not only because I am a former LEO, they seem to treat everyone applying for a pistol license the same way. That is nice to see because it shows they are not only acting with all due respect but also as true professionals. I tip my hat to them for that.

All the best,
Glenn B