Complex Multi-State Legality ?

[Philly215]

Hey guys. I'm new here and have been trying to figure out the logistics of the situation I'm in. I've recently graduated from college and am continuing to live in my college town in Tompkins County NY. My permanent residence is in PA and my drivers license is in PA.

It seems that most of the shooting ranges in central NY are private and membership is needed. In order to be a member I need a NY pistol permit from Tompkins County. Is it possible for me to get one? I have an apartment in NY, but am assuming my drivers license might cause some problems. I don't want to get a NY drivers license just so I can shoot guns in the state. Does anybody know if I can get a NY pistol permit?

 

[Shadow 7D]

check with a NY club, or competent legal source.
but most likely NO. as why would the give a permit to someone who doesn't live there, or may not be able to. However, I believe that NY has something where you can get a temp permit, but that is for competitors shooting a sponsored match, but that my be NJ.

 

[Legionnaire]

Does anybody know if I can get a NY pistol permit?

I was a long time resident of Onondaga County, now happily in western PA. Unfortunately, NY does not issue permits to non-residents, nor do they have reciprocity with any other state. If you're not a NY resident, you are out of luck. Further, it is a violation of the law to be in possession of a handgun in NY State without a NY permit, so if you have a handgun with you, better get it back to PA as soon as you can. Shadow 7D is correct that there is an exemption to the permit requirement for those competing in sactioned competitions, but you had better be legal in your home state, be on your way to the match, at the match, or on your way home (out of state), and have paperwork verifying that you are registered to participate in the competition.

Took me 9 months (IIRC) to get my original permit in Onondaga County, restricted to hunting and target shooting, and another year or more to get the restrictions lifted. Took me less time, expense, and hassle to get my first PA permit, and that was while I was still a NY resident. NY is pretty crappy with regard to handguns.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I'll bet if you read the law, you are supposed to get a NY driver's license now that you reside there and are no longer a student.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Get the NY DL. Then you can bring your pistols in state. Problem solved.

 

[Legionnaire]

Get the NY DL. Then you can bring your pistols in state. Problem solved.

Incorrect. In NY, one needs a permit to possess a handgun. One of the hassles to moving to NY from anywhere else is that you CAN'T bring your handguns with you; you need to get your permit first. That's a hassle. And the permit has to list every handgun you own by make, model, serial number, caliber, and maybe even barrel length (IIRC). My daughter moved to Rochester NY a couple of years ago; has NY DL, rent receipts, even last year's NY tax forms. She just started working on getting her permit. Until she gets it, her revolver sits in my safe here in PA.

 

[bhesler]

Your residency issue is easier to handle than your gun issue. If you consider your stay in NY temporary, with the intent to return to your PA residence, you are still a PA resident. PM me if you want some more info on the tax issues (i have done the same thing with NJ)

If NY will not issue a permit to a non resident, you are out of luck. I am not sure about Thompkins county, but my father in law went to a class outside Albany, and left after a lecture on how he was going to kill someone and end up in prison. Just decided it wasn't worth it. He grew up on a farm, has rifles and shotguns, and hunted his entire life, but somehow a pistol is going to turn him into a criminal.