Erie County, NY Pistol Permit Application Process

nogods said:
The permit came today. The end of an 18 month odyssey, starting with my decision to get a permit, then waiting for the course to be held, then 16 months from the time I submitted my application to the day the permit arrived.

If the Supreme Court rules that the second amendment applies to the state, I wouldn't be surprised to hear some politicians in Erie County clamoring to revoke all revocable handgun permits on the theory that they were issued under a "revocable at anytime" premise. If the second amendment applies to the states, the county might not be able to issue "revocable at anytime" permits. So they might simply revoke all such existing permits and make everyone apply for permits that can't be revoked at any time. I'm sure blumberg has already thought of this for NYC.

But if that happens I think one could successfully argue that a constitutional right that takes more than 6 months to exercise is a denial of those rights. Unfortunately, it will take lengthy litigation to get to that conclusion.
Click to expand...

Then give me my money back.
Well, my son-in-law put in his permit on July 15.
Finally got the PD Interview on Feb 7th.
Just about 7 months in.
Of course, now that the investigating officer is done. It goes to the Chief of Police's desk.
After he signs it it will go to a going downtown pile, for who know how long.
Once the Permit Office receives it the next pile will be to the Judge.
What a joke.

There are 250 work days in a year. 1000 applications divided by 250 = an average of 4 per day.
What a workload.
 
golocx4 said:
Then give me my money back.
Well, my son-in-law put in his permit on July 15.
Finally got the PD Interview on Feb 7th.
Just about 7 months in.
Of course, now that the investigating officer is done. It goes to the Chief of Police's desk.
After he signs it it will go to a going downtown pile, for who know how long.
Once the Permit Office receives it the next pile will be to the Judge.
What a joke.

There are 250 work days in a year. 1000 applications divided by 250 = an average of 4 per day.
What a workload.
Click to expand...

Try calling Kathy Hochels office but talk real fast. As soon as they ask why you are calling, they patch you right over to the pistol permit office. Ask to speak to Kathy Hochel about poor service from some of her employees. Tell the person who answers the phone that you want to talk to her only. It's time we stand up people. These seven slugs in this office are crapping all over us.
 
She was out of the office. She was attending the Auto Show . I'll try again Monday and this time I will talk real fast because the minute you say the words "pistol permit" they click the phone and it rings at the psitol permit office.

EDIT: Monday is a PAID county holiday so there will be an additional delay in trying to make contact. Unreal.
 
I spoke to the Erie County Pistol Department mid December and was told my permit was on its way to the Cheektowaga PD. I called them Jan. 27th and talked to the pistol departments secretary. As soon as I told her my name she was able to tell me where in the process I was (mine was on the Detectives desk and next to be called for reference checks) and even took my info so she could call me back after she talked to the detective. Four hours later she called me back to tell me the detective would start my references soon. That night they talked to 3 of my references and left a message for the 4th, and a week later they were all contacted. I plan to call the PD Monday to see if my permit has been sent back to Erie county or if its still on a desk there. Sad thing is that once it gets back down town I hear it can sit on the judges desk for up to 3 months and then another 2-3 to get my actual permit from Albany. Even sadder is I now have a .357 S&W, Glock 27 and Beretta .22 paid for, waiting to be fired and collecting dust at the gun store. So now the hope is to have my permit by summer.

Quick Stats
- 5/15/09 submitted finished application downtown and sched. my fingerprints
- August 09 permit sent to FBI
- 12/11/09 called downtown to find out permit status was told it was sent to Cheektowaga PD for my reference checks
- 12/28 Cheektowaga PD says they received my packet
-1/27 3 of 4 references contacted
- 2/5 last reference contacted
 
I'm almost 4 months ahead of you and still no permit. You have a long way to go if current trends are any indication. Plan on Fall of 2010 or even 2011. It's been one year for me already and mine has been approved since last year!
 
permitinNYtakesayear said:
I'm almost 4 months ahead of you and still no permit. You have a long way to go if current trends are any indication. Plan on Fall of 2010 or even 2011. It's been one year for me already and mine has been approved since last year!
Click to expand...

Have you contacted the NYS Rifle and Pistol Association or the NRA. I'm not sure if they could help, but it can't hurt.
 
Erie County Pistol Permit Bureau

I e-mailed Senator Dale Volker today and detailed my experiences with the EC PPB and application process time line.

I think that it may be more effective to put things in writing when contacting a politician. They tend to respect the fact that there's a paper trail, makes it much harder for them to deny not being informed.

It might not be a bad idea for everyone to politely contact Senator Volker by e-mail and express your concerns. If enough people make enough noise we may get some results.

Tens months and counting. Application received by the PPB from my local PD on December 14, 2009. Clerk at the PPB said it takes 3 months for the licensing judge to get around to signing off on the application and then another 8 to 12 weelks to just to print out my permit and send it to my home.

Anyone have a shorter wait for the judge to ok you application, 3 months seem excessively long and the additional 8 to 12 weeks just to print it out is just outright insulting.
 
Insulting is about as mild a word as one could use in describing these delays. Kathy Hochul has been known to get things moving at this office (she's the BOSS of the Pistol Permit Office) but she's still a Liberal Dem and these delays seem to be by design. I'd also write to Ms. Hochul also. She takes questions now and then when she's interviewed on WBEN. I plan on calling her on the radio and putting some heat on her the next time she appears on Sandy Beach show. Maybe a letter to the Buffalo News asking that they look into pistol permit delays? It's a long shot but worth a try.
 
Sample Letter:

As a registered voter I would like to express my support for gun rights and opposition to any further gun control legislation. More anti-gun rights law will only prevent law abiding citizens from defending themselves, and will not deter criminals who already disobey the laws against murder, robbery, etc. As my elected official, please keep my viewpoint in mind and vote in favor of gun rights and the right for law abiding citizens to defend themselves.
I also ask that you please investigate the long delays occurring in the Erie County Pistol Permit Office.
NY State Law states in Section 400.00 of the NYS Penal Code, Paragraph 4-a

4-a. Processing of license applications. Applications for licenses
shall be accepted for processing by the licensing officer at the time of
presentment. Except upon written notice to the applicant specifically
stating the reasons for any delay, in each case the licensing officer
shall act upon any application for a license pursuant to this section
within six months of the date of presentment of such an application to
the appropriate authority. Such delay may only be for good cause and
with respect to the applicant. In acting upon an application, the
licensing officer shall either deny the application for reasons
specifically and concisely stated in writing or grant the application
and issue the license applied for.

The Eire County web site clearly state the process take between 6 and 8 months.
I know of people that have waited waited over 12 months to get their NY State Pistol Permit , despite the fact that the law requires the permit be issued or denied within six months.

Please investigate and determine what gives a County Government Agency the right to disregard and violate New York State law.

Sincerely,
 
Just another quick update...my packet has made its way back downtown to the judges desk for final review and signing...here are the stats thus far:

- 5/15/09 submitted finished application downtown and sched. my fingerprints
- August 09 permit sent to FBI
- 12/11/09 called downtown to find out permit status was told it was sent to Cheektowaga PD for my reference checks
- 12/28/09 Cheektowaga PD says they received my packet
-1/27/10 3 of 4 references contacted
- 2/5/10 last reference contacted
- 2/16/10 Checked in with the permit department downtown to find out my permit was returned and on the judges desk for final review and signing
 
Well sitting here still at the 14 month point, called last week and they said my permit was done, but the printer was broken, so they needed to have a new printer overnighted in to resume making permits. Sad to see that we have more then doubled the time frame it should take here in Erie county. But honestly not, enough people complain, I have made it rough on myself I am sure, I have complained each and every time I was treated rudely when I called in or any other time I was displeased. I have sent e-mails to my congressmen, senators, the county exec, county clerk and all 3 news organizations in the area. The only one to ever get back to me was the county clerk and that did little or no good. I am so fed up with this county and state. We all need to complain at once to one of the news agencies and make them do a story on this! We cant expose this any other way, so who's in? I think we need a good 50 people e-mailing one agency all in one day with real contact info to turn them onto this and make them know there are some in Erie county who want answers!
 
If the Supreme's hold that the 2nd applies to this state, then I think a lawsuit or threatened lawsuit over the time it takes issue a permit will be successful in speeding up the process.
 
holdmdwn said:
Well sitting here still at the 14 month point, called last week and they said my permit was done, but the printer was broken, so they needed to have a new printer overnighted in to resume making permits. Sad to see that we have more then doubled the time frame it should take here in Erie county. But honestly not, enough people complain, I have made it rough on myself I am sure, I have complained each and every time I was treated rudely when I called in or any other time I was displeased. I have sent e-mails to my congressmen, senators, the county exec, county clerk and all 3 news organizations in the area. The only one to ever get back to me was the county clerk and that did little or no good. I am so fed up with this county and state. We all need to complain at once to one of the news agencies and make them do a story on this! We cant expose this any other way, so who's in? I think we need a good 50 people e-mailing one agency all in one day with real contact info to turn them onto this and make them know there are some in Erie county who want answers!
Click to expand...

You won't get any help from SCOPE, Erie County chapter. They think Hathy Hochul is doing a good job because she authorized overtime for pistol permit personel to work at the Hamburg gun show! This office and this county clerk are a total disgrace.

The lovely people from the Pistol Permit office will be at the Hamburg Fairgrounds gun show March 6th and 7th. Maybe we can meet up and ask them in person why it is taking them so long to issue permits? Just a thought.
 
trophyhunter said:
Mr.B ,

Did they say how long it was going to sit on Judges desk?
Click to expand...

Mine sat there for around 2 months or so. You know what else? My approval letter was dated 3 weeks before they even mailed it to me so it sat at the pistol permit office all that time before they stuffed it in an envelope and mailed it to me. Now I'm waitng over 3 months for them to print my permit card so I can pick up my long ago purchased handgun that I bought last year. SCOPE seems to think Kathy Hochul is pro-second ammendment. What a joke.
 
Great Idea!

holdmdwn said:
We all need to complain at once to one of the news agencies and make them do a story on this! We cant expose this any other way, so who's in? I think we need a good 50 people e-mailing one agency all in one day with real contact info to turn them onto this and make them know there are some in Erie county who want answers!
Click to expand...
Great Idea.
All three TV Stations
TV stations in Albany
Buffalo News Website all log in and start a thread.
All it will take is one to mention something and the others will feel scooped.
That could start a feeding frenzy.
I dunno just thinking.



I ask that you please investigate the long delays occurring in the Erie County Pistol Permit Office.
NY State Law states in Section 400.00 of the NYS Penal Code, Paragraph 4-a

4-a. Processing of license applications. Applications for licenses
shall be accepted for processing by the licensing officer at the time of
presentment. Except upon written notice to the applicant specifically
stating the reasons for any delay, in each case the licensing officer
shall act upon any application for a license pursuant to this section
within six months of the date of presentment of such an application to
the appropriate authority. Such delay may only be for good cause and
with respect to the applicant. In acting upon an application, the
licensing officer shall either deny the application for reasons
specifically and concisely stated in writing or grant the application
and issue the license applied for.

The Link Removedclearly states the process takes between 6 and 8 months, when it is actually taking between 12 and 18 months. Again please refer to the law that states the permit be issued or denied within six months.

What good are laws if they are simply ignored.
 
Well - I started putting together a list of e-mails and most of the stations have form mail or Face book etc
YNN is ok with news@buffalo.ynn.com

The other and possibly more effective way would be to invest in 3 stamps and snail mail all three stations on the same day.
signing off with
I'm sorry but in fear of retribution and discrimination by our own Government Agency I cannot supply a return address and only give you my first name.

Sincerely,

(Your first Name)

Again, just thinking - please lets discuss further.
 
Last edited:
They gave me a time line of 1-2 months on the judges desk and another 1-2 months once I get my letter and register my guns before I get my actual permit.
 
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