I called once a month after the 6 month mark to see where my application was in the process. I wouldn't call more than that and expect nasty people on the other end of the phone. The best thing you can do is to let your references know once the application gets to your police department so they can have an idea of when to expect calls for a reference check. Some places only do a few calls a day and if can't get a response from your references they put your app on the bottom of the pile. Good luck.
Erie County, NY Pistol Permit Application Process
- Thread starter porcupine73
- Start date
absolut1377
New member
I received my letter in less then 3 months (applied in mid march got my letter 6/2). I didn't purchase anything until 6/29 and when I went down with my letter and receipt I was told it'd be another 4-6 weeks to get my actual permit. Why is there such a long wait for that? I believe they can print the cards out right there.
Less than 3 months ??!! I submitted my application in September '09...and still haven't received a letter yet !! It's been 10 months and still not close. Last time I called the permit office, they told me they hadn't received my background check from the DOJ yet. Maybe an excuse, maybe not..who knows. Meanwhile I wait...
golocx4
Got Beretta's?
I also submitted in Sept 09.
May 15 Erie CO Sheriff showed up to interview me and my wife.
Went to neighbor but they were not home.
Messages were left by him to my references.
June 13 Sheriff finally contacted neighbor and reference's.
June 30 Called Permit office. Still have not received from Sheriff Dept.
Meanwhile - my daughter submitted in Jan 10 with electronic Fingerprints
May 1 received interview from PD
June 1 received letter that license was ready.
Things appear to be improving at the office unless you were part of the pre electronic fingerprinting system.
Depending on the Local PD that is doing your background check. This can take between 1 week and 5 months.
Called the office and the people are helpful on the phone.
My guess on the additional 4 to 6 week delay is (and this is only a guess)
Its kind of like getting a divorce. Your divorce is granted by the judge, but not official until it is registered and stamped.
This can be 30 days later.
My guess is since I submitted in Sept 09 than I should be finished by Sept or Oct 10.
Denial letter...
I received my denial letter for my upgrade to full unrestricted today...the official letter shows I do not have "proper cause" for the upgrade and can reapply after 5 years with proper cause....what a load of bull shit...so if I'm walking down the street and see someone getting robbed at gun point and I happen to have my firearm on me I'll turn and walk away and if anyone asks why I'll direct them to the wonderful team at the Erie County Pistol Permit Office. I received my full unrestricted permit for PA in 3 weeks...no interview..no hassle...I mailed my upgrade for Erie County at the same time and it took twice as long to get denied...I'm thinking it may be time to leave this state when the next opportunity to move within my company comes up...good luck to everyone else...
I received my denial letter for my upgrade to full unrestricted today...the official letter shows I do not have "proper cause" for the upgrade and can reapply after 5 years with proper cause....what a load of bull shit...so if I'm walking down the street and see someone getting robbed at gun point and I happen to have my firearm on me I'll turn and walk away and if anyone asks why I'll direct them to the wonderful team at the Erie County Pistol Permit Office. I received my full unrestricted permit for PA in 3 weeks...no interview..no hassle...I mailed my upgrade for Erie County at the same time and it took twice as long to get denied...I'm thinking it may be time to leave this state when the next opportunity to move within my company comes up...good luck to everyone else...
submitted very early in January, no clue where I'm at yet in the process.*
meanwhile, 3/4 of my references have moved or had their phone numbers changed.
if my company downsizes me next month, I will be moving out of state. sooooo sick of nys and its inability to get its ::stuff:: together.
meanwhile, 3/4 of my references have moved or had their phone numbers changed.
if my company downsizes me next month, I will be moving out of state. sooooo sick of nys and its inability to get its ::stuff:: together.
I am sorry about the denial. May I ask what you put on your unrestricted application. I pointed out that I and my familly owned property in a high crime area in Buffalo, I had years of experience in the military with open carry, and I understand all of the restrictions of the unrestricted license.
Yea I guess the E-fingerprints would be the way to go. The woman at the permit office did mention to me that they had to resend my prints for some reason or another. The fact that people wait a year for these permits is so absurd. Add to that the fact they can just arbitrarily deny anyone that wants an unrestricted permit. It's not a good system here but the good news is we 're not in Chicago. When is the government and liberals going to realize that when the good guys are armed, crime rates drop ??
Did your application say you wanted an unrestricted permit so you could protect other people from crime? If so, I bet that is why you were denied, and if so it was the right decision.
We should all be allowed to carry concealed for personal protection, but I don't think we need people carrying to play Dirty Harry.
Good point about people "playing Dirty Harry" but that was not nor is it my intention...that was just an off comment made out of frustration...I forgot that people take things so literally sometimes ...I put that I was robbed at gun point and now that I have a 6 month old son I would like to be able to defend my family and myself should the need present itself and only as a last resort...I also stated that my in laws live on a one way street that has an apartment at one end that has had shootings and drug activity....in addition I noted that I have no intention on being a hero and I would leave that to the trained professionals and that using my firearm would be an absolute last resort..it is a much better practice to avoid situations that may result in violence than to have an "i'll rely on my gun" mind set...when I was robbed at gun point I was at work and a gun walked up to me, asked for all the money in the drawer and pointed a gun in my face...nothing could have been done to avoid that situation and thank god it ended with just a loss of $106.52 to the store...but I would not want to rely on luck should a situation present itself like that again .. my opinion on the matter is that the lovely staff that intercepts the upgrade forms saw that I only had my permit for a short time and put it into a denied pile without the judge actually reading it....when I went to get my card printed and asked for an upgrade form the nasty lady told me "not to bother because they won't even consider it unless you have had your permit for 5 years"...so I'll wait the 5 years...oh and I probably won't be leaving the state either...that was another comment based out of frustration..just wanted to clear that up too....take care...Happy 4th
Bluesdriven
New member
Too much information
This less you say the better " I wish obtain permit for self defense as prescribed by the limits of NY state law" then briefly outline the reasons high crime area etc you aren't talking to the judge you are presenting him a legal document. Also no editorial comments made out of frustration or otherwise your frustration translates to being a hot head you screwed yourself the process in NY is frustrating but you have to deal with it
This less you say the better " I wish obtain permit for self defense as prescribed by the limits of NY state law" then briefly outline the reasons high crime area etc you aren't talking to the judge you are presenting him a legal document. Also no editorial comments made out of frustration or otherwise your frustration translates to being a hot head you screwed yourself the process in NY is frustrating but you have to deal with it
Movingsoon
New member
Self Defence is NOT a valid reason for an unrestricted permit in Erie County NY. Buffalo NY has a shooting every single night. I hear sirens screaming all night long in our once safe neighborhood that is being destroyed by the ever encroaching ghetto. I even found a spent bullet in my driveway from one of the nitwits who shoot them up in the air on July 4th! The NY Pistol permit office issued both me and my wife Hunting Target permits only. I also have to keep them locked up in my own home with a trigger lock on them. Neither of us have ever been arrested, no traffic tickets in close to two decades for both of us. Not so much as a late utility payment. We are boring people who have never hurt, stolen or vandalized anything in our lives. We are both in our late 30's and we can't get a personal protection permit. Under the reason why we wanted a personal protection permit we both entered the following on our application:
Personal protection due to the increasing and documented violent crimes and home invasions in our neighborhood.
DENIED and issued Hunting Target permit with trigger lock requirment at all times. This was the final straw as I don't feel safe in my own home and can't stand sleeping with a deer hunting shotgun under my bed anymore! I figured if I am moving with no job lined up, I might as well go for broke and leave the state rather than just the city. My house just SOLD (at a loss) and I'm very happy!
We are moving very soon and I can't wait to get out of this state. A state where only criminals are allowed to be armed. I've been here all my life and I hope to never come back here again, not even to visit. My whole family and most of my friends have already left so I will have no reason to.
Good luck to all here and I wish you the best. I'm moving to a state where you can own a pistol with no permit at all, open carry with no permit at all and a concealed carry permit MUST be granted to you in 14 days or less if you have no criminal record. Best wishes.
Personal protection due to the increasing and documented violent crimes and home invasions in our neighborhood.
DENIED and issued Hunting Target permit with trigger lock requirment at all times. This was the final straw as I don't feel safe in my own home and can't stand sleeping with a deer hunting shotgun under my bed anymore! I figured if I am moving with no job lined up, I might as well go for broke and leave the state rather than just the city. My house just SOLD (at a loss) and I'm very happy!
We are moving very soon and I can't wait to get out of this state. A state where only criminals are allowed to be armed. I've been here all my life and I hope to never come back here again, not even to visit. My whole family and most of my friends have already left so I will have no reason to.
Good luck to all here and I wish you the best. I'm moving to a state where you can own a pistol with no permit at all, open carry with no permit at all and a concealed carry permit MUST be granted to you in 14 days or less if you have no criminal record. Best wishes.
I was born and raised in NYC, moved out of the state for a few years and then moved back a few years ago to Erie County. I am a former NYS peace officer and I was DENIED an unrestricted carry license and was told that I didn't show proper cause. Now you would think that being a former peace officer would have given me the unrestricted permit but it didn't. On the other hand...I have a friend who is an attorney and just put in an upgrade application for me. I have had the permit for over two years which at the time I applied was told to wait two years to apply for the upgrade. My attorney friend said that at this point we won't have a problem. I know in NYC that people retain lawyers to assist them in getting unrestricted permits. These attorneys charge an arm and a leg for their service, especially in NYC. I trust that being this is Erie County and I have obtained the services of an attorney that my chances of the unrestricted upgrade will be good. I'll keep you informed.
Denied
Hello gents, I've been reading this thread over the last months, and it has been very useful in my understanding of the process. Unfortunately I today received a letter of denial from Kathleen C. Hochul. My timeline is as follows.
October 2009 - Applied
April 2010 - References Contacted
May 2010 - Interview
July 21, 2010 - Denial
The Hon. M. William Boller states the reason for denial as: "The information received as the result of an investigation conducted by the Erie County Sheriff's Department and their subsequent recommendation for denial."
I have a clean record, military service, 2 years as a security guard, desire to be an armed guard, go hunting, and am a memeber of a range. What in the heck did they deny me on? I have a valid Florida license which is now no good to me whatsoever. Thoughts? Advice? I'm all ears gentlemen.
Hello gents, I've been reading this thread over the last months, and it has been very useful in my understanding of the process. Unfortunately I today received a letter of denial from Kathleen C. Hochul. My timeline is as follows.
October 2009 - Applied
April 2010 - References Contacted
May 2010 - Interview
July 21, 2010 - Denial
The Hon. M. William Boller states the reason for denial as: "The information received as the result of an investigation conducted by the Erie County Sheriff's Department and their subsequent recommendation for denial."
I have a clean record, military service, 2 years as a security guard, desire to be an armed guard, go hunting, and am a memeber of a range. What in the heck did they deny me on? I have a valid Florida license which is now no good to me whatsoever. Thoughts? Advice? I'm all ears gentlemen.
PFC Webb, that's very disturbing news. There must be an appeal process that you should pursue. Now they are denying people with clean records, wow. My app which I turned in back in sep 09 is now in the hands of the Buffalo PD. They haven't contacted myself or any of my refs yet. I'm going on 11 months...
permitinNYtakesayear
New member
My wife was denied a permit in Buffalo. The woman has never had so much as a traffic ticket in her whole life. She applied for an unrestricted permit to be used for self defense and took the required training course plus a live fire training course in PA. Denied with no explaination after 14 months of waiting.
bradtheskiking
New member
I can Update on Wyoming County now:
I recieved my permit in approximently 3 months, full carry no restrictions. I also had a friend turn hers in after mine and got it at the same time as i did, so I believe they must do them once they get a pile stacked up.
I also was told that Wyoming County does not mess around with restrictions, they either give you full carry or nothing.
I recieved my permit in approximently 3 months, full carry no restrictions. I also had a friend turn hers in after mine and got it at the same time as i did, so I believe they must do them once they get a pile stacked up.
I also was told that Wyoming County does not mess around with restrictions, they either give you full carry or nothing.
