Pistol permits take time and money

When permit holder dies, all his or her handguns must be accounted for

When it comes to pistols, here are some two littleknown facts:

• There is no limit on the number of guns one can own.

• Background checks can take up to six months.

• Total fees for a handgun license are about $ 130.

Madison County Court Judge Biagio DiStefano is the licensing officer for pistol permits in Madison County.

He says would- be gunowners need to fill out an application and pay a fee; then there is a record check and a mental health background check. The applicant’s fingerprints are taken and run through a database.

“People do get turned down,” Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley said.

There is a backlog at the state level because of cost saving- staffing cutbacks, which can cause delays.

It can take six months or longer to get a pistol permit, he said.

In order to get a pistol permit, a gun owner must be a Madison County resident or principally employed within Madison County and lived or in worked the county for at least six months.

Total fees are about $ 130; this includes fingerprinting and background checks.

There are different levels of pistol permits, which include different permits for hunting, target shooting and concealed carry.

After the permit application is filled out, all the background checks done and fees

paid, DiStefano reviews the information and decides if the applicant is to be issued pistol permits. He said while it may not always be safe, with the right permit, the gun owner can carry a pistol anywhere, not necessarily in a holster. It can even be in a pocket.

“How you carry it is up to you,” he said.

There are a few basic rules regarding pistol permits once you get one, he said.

The permits are valid until suspended or revoked, and are valid anywhere in New York state, except in New York City. Gun- owners can not enter New York City ( comprised of five counties) with a handgun without prior permission.

The pistol permit office should also be notified when an owner moves within the county or outside the county.

If a pistol is lost, stolen, or destroyed, the incident should be reported to police and to the pistol permit office in the county office complex on Court Street in Wampsville.

If transporting handguns, they should be locked in a container in the trunk and your ammunition kept separate. A permit for “Hunting and Target” means you can only carry the handguns) for those purposes. Gun owners may not cross state lines with a handgun, unless for NRAapproved shooting matches. County officials say that handguns may be co- registered with family members, if they live in the same household.

Death terminates a pistol permit.

In the event of death, the deceased’s family must turn pistol permit into the pistol permit office along with a copy of the death certificate. In this case, all handguns must be accounted for and the family has 15 days to sell the gun to a dealer, or transfer it to another pistol permit holder.

If not completed in 15 days, all handguns must be turned into the Madison County Sheriffs Department until the estate makes a decision regarding their disposition.