Erie County, NY Pistol Permit Application Process
4 months in.....

Hey everyone, figured I would put my stats as the currently stand so people can use the info to guage where they are at in the process. I turned my application in May 15, 2009 and had an apointment at the local Police Department (Cheektowaga) for my finger prints and light questioning the following week. As of 9 11, 2009 none of my references have been contacted and I have not recieved anything reguarding my reference. A buddy of mine who submitted his in Jan '09 got a letter in 4 '09 stating he needed to provide another reference and resubmit. So I am taking the lack of personal contact as a good sign, while the lack of reference contact to be frustrating. Like the rest of you I am eager to get my permit and have already purchased my first gun which is a Glock 27. I'll keep you updated as I make my way through the process. If possible could the people posting put local Police Department so the rest of us in that area have a rough idea of a timeline for getting the permit. Thanks and good luck to everyone.
 

Character ref in New York

Mr. B said:
Hey everyone, figured I would put my stats as the currently stand so people can use the info to guage where they are at in the process. I turned my application in May 15, 2009 and had an apointment at the local Police Department (Cheektowaga) for my finger prints and light questioning the following week. As of 9 11, 2009 none of my references have been contacted and I have not recieved anything reguarding my reference. A buddy of mine who submitted his in Jan '09 got a letter in 4 '09 stating he needed to provide another reference and resubmit. So I am taking the lack of personal contact as a good sign, while the lack of reference contact to be frustrating. Like the rest of you I am eager to get my permit and have already purchased my first gun which is a Glock 27. I'll keep you updated as I make my way through the process. If possible could the people posting put local Police Department so the rest of us in that area have a rough idea of a timeline for getting the permit. Thanks and good luck to everyone.
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You should aways try to get a good character reference because that can help expedite.A bad character ref puts a hold on your application and puts you on the bottom.Remember that all the town PD's are contacted in the county you reside in and have data on every applicants history.If anything comes up negative and you didn't mention the incident, that you well be denied a licence.The Undersheriff conducts the backround and checks every character ref and if one of those refs are bad he denies the application and requests that another character ref is used.As in my case I moved from another county in the state and was a police officer and still needed to go through the process having been contacted by the Undersherff, he interviewed me asking if I was ever in any civil/departmental charges taken against me.He contacted my dept and got a clean record back and approved my license and had an interview with the judge in which he gave a no restriction license.The license took 6 months so it takes time.Good Luck.
 
Hey Guys, NewTo Forum but, as to Erie County permits it helps if you can talk to will fowler he is generally a good guy and, if you request a meeting with him and talk to him he can speed up the process for you the regular clerks in the office could care less about you or, your permit but, will does I appiled in Nov 2008 and, around Feb 2008 I was down town so i deceided to stop in the permit office to check on my status clerk told me they were waiting for info from my police department I already knew the department dropped info off 2 weeks before i went there so I asked why she would tell me that when I knew info was already there. she looked at me like a deer in the headlights I then asked nicely if i could speak to the gentlemen in charge at which point Mr. Fowler came out and ask me to come in his office, he said he was sorry for the confusion and said let me see what i could findout about 3 minutes later he came back in with all my paperwork and said to me that the clerk should not have mis informed me and that he was sorry he promised me he would take permit application upstairs himself and I said thank you but what a great guy received my approval letter in first week of march and i went to office to activate my permit and instead of waiting the 2 weeks it takes to mail permit mr. fowler made sure it was issued to me on the spot total time it took 3 months Mr Fowler will sit and talk if you ask for him just be polite and honest and he can speed up the process. the clerks inthe office answer hundreds of phone calls daily and they really dont want to take the time to look or, check on your permit if you can stop in the office and bring timmy hoes coffee trust me good deed goes along way. and, when your there they cant blow you off they have to check for you if no luck with clerk ask for MR. FOWLER:thank_you2:
 
Never had my references checked and had my permit in 3 mos. Knew no one. My wife it took her 8 mos. She did not have any of her references contacted either.
 
You didnt apply in Erie County........ They check everything twice just like ole saint nick.. Ecounty doesnt let anything get by them Remember New York State is Not a Shall Issue State Its a May Issue State
 
Sounds like you had it easy. wish it was like that for all Erie County Residents Im Glad to hear that you and your wife had a pleasent experience with your permit process but, there are allot of poeple out there that have been waiting over a year and, the kicker is not one of them have received a letter explaining the reason for delays as there are suppose to do. I often wonder why EC is like that remember they are elected officers we need to stand together and vote them out. we need another Penny Wolfgang in Office.
 
Moved to Erie County

I moved to Erie County last year and need to transfer my permit from Monroe County. I've just been reading up on the restrictions Erie County adds... ugh. Anybody familiar with how they handle transfering a full carry conceal permit from another county? I've had a hard time finding good official documentation on the county restrictions. I'm not going to be doing much hunting in Buffalo NY, but the area I live I feel the need for self defense at a level higher than just using my big girl voice (which works very well, but...). Let me tell you, I need to finish school and move.
 
Pending on how long you have had your permit.erie county may consider giving you unrestricted but, Judge William Boller does not issue unrestricted to often you need to provide excellent reasons that you need to carry unrestricted. he is tuff I ve known allot of poeple who have tried to upgrade only to be turned down and the reason Judge uses for denying upgrade or, unrestricted You Have Not Shown Valid Reason Under Penal Law 400.00-2 and, you cant fight this allot have tried only to have failed you only option is to go to pistol permit office and, ask to speak to William Fowler Explain your situation to him and respectfully request that if and, when you transfer you would like to keep your unrestricted permit. also state laws says you dont have to transfer your permit from one county to another only thing you must do is address change. I would just change your address and keep your permit in your county only downsize to that is you will have to go to your county to add or,delete weapons but, at least you keep your unrestricted status good luck let us know of your outcome
 
Interesting - all of the paperwork and info online direct you to transfer your permit, I didn't realize that you could just change your address and leave the permit in a different county. I've got reasonable justification for that - this is a temporary move for attending grad school. I'm suspecting that when I submit my address change they'll tell me I need to transfer it, though - bureaucracy. Going back to the original county for additions/deletions is not a big deal since I don't do it often and it's not far. Thanks for the alternate approach!
 
Does your permit show if license is run?

I was robbed at gun point 2 years ago and although I had thought about it, I never applied for my permit . I just figured that if I stayed out of "crimes way" I wouldn't have a problem and if my time was up then so be it. In May my wife told me that she was pregnant and we would have our first born in Dec. I decided to apply for my permit because SHOULD the need arise I would want to be able to protect my family. My days of delinquent behavior, speeding and even drinking are long gone and to be honest its been over 4 years since I've been pulled over and even longer since getting a ticket. My question for the group is if I decide to carry my gun with a target/hunting permit what are my chances of actually being caught with it. If the police run your license plate will it come back that I have a permit or would I be ok unless I used it or by some weird reason someone saw it and notified the authorities. A friend told me that since I have land in Wales I could try to tell the officer I was going/coming back and didn't want to leave the firearm in my vehicle while I did some running around before going/coming back from my property.
 
Mr. B,

there are too many things that could go wrong with you carrying outside your resrtictions.even though the law states you wont or,can not be prosecuted You will loose your permit. then pending on the LEO they might just look other way. but in the worst situation if you do use your weapon for self defence with restricted permit. your in trouble best thing to do is review the penal law section 400.00 we all fee lyour pain. Erie County Sucks.........
 
Mr. B said:
My question for the group is if I decide to carry my gun with a target/hunting permit what are my chances of actually being caught with it. If the police run your license plate will it come back that I have a permit or would I be ok unless I used it or by some weird reason someone saw it and notified the authorities. A friend told me that since I have land in Wales I could try to tell the officer I was going/coming back and didn't want to leave the firearm in my vehicle while I did some running around before going/coming back from my property.
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Your chances of being caught carrying depend on how well you conceal and whether you put yourself into situations that may expose you.

The cops that I know would not jam up an otherwise lawful person for carrying on a target/hunting permit. If you're wreckless driving, throwing crap out the window, you will probably not get any consideration. I know of at least a couple instances of different cops pulling guys carrying on a t/h permit and they haven't broken balls. YMMV. That is simply information w.which you can help make your decision.
 
PD license check of Driver

Mr. B said:
I was robbed at gun point 2 years ago and although I had thought about it, I never applied for my permit . I just figured that if I stayed out of "crimes way" I wouldn't have a problem and if my time was up then so be it. In May my wife told me that she was pregnant and we would have our first born in Dec. I decided to apply for my permit because SHOULD the need arise I would want to be able to protect my family. My days of delinquent behavior, speeding and even drinking are long gone and to be honest its been over 4 years since I've been pulled over and even longer since getting a ticket. My question for the group is if I decide to carry my gun with a target/hunting permit what are my chances of actually being caught with it. If the police run your license plate will it come back that I have a permit or would I be ok unless I used it or by some weird reason someone saw it and notified the authorities. A friend told me that since I have land in Wales I could try to tell the officer I was going/coming back and didn't want to leave the firearm in my vehicle while I did some running around before going/coming back from my property.
Click to expand...
I can tell you this that when you are stopped for a V&T and your reg is entered all that comes up is that you are valid to drive nothing instructing that you have a pistol permit.Most cops I worked with were anti-gun and would be quick to report that you were caught violating the condition of your permit.You are going to lose your license supended/revolked.I have stopped at least a dozen people with target only restrictions.If you have a good game plan like a indoor 24 hour range and keep a set of ear muffs and a range bag you might just get a verbal warning.I know it's a scary experience knowing that you have a driver that has a loaded gun and was just stopped for speeding and they are upset with the P.O. but my safety and training has always worked.Most cops only ask for a license & reg proof of insurance and the reason they stopped you.I ask the question is there anything you have in the car like a weapon that I should know about.A dead giveaway keep your mags & ammo out of sight.That gives the officer the right to check for that gun.
 
Still waiting...

Just an update....5 months and 3 days....still haven't contacted my references...glad I didn't have a real need to protect myself cuz by now I'd be dead....
 
Wait is almost over

Mr. B said:
Just an update....5 months and 3 days....still haven't contacted my references...glad I didn't have a real need to protect myself cuz by now I'd be dead....
Click to expand...
Every county is different in the way they process the application.I know my friend who applied in Delaware county the next day all his character refs had a letter from the sheriffs office.He got his permit in just over 6 months in time for the hunting season,another friend in the same county got his in 3 months but that was 2 years ago.In Sullivan county the clerk said they have a surge with applications since December 2008 which has delayed them to the 6-8 month time frame.You can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
 
Got MINE Today....

Hello all, I just received my permit, restricted to hunting and target, but at least I got it...Erie co. approx time was 9 months... I will register my pistol tomorrow...:man_in_love:
 
hey guys new guy here,

i just went to pick up the paper work to fill out and it says that all of your four of your references must live in erie county? what happends if i moved up here from Chautauqua county and dont know ppl up herE?
 
Some counties may wave the refs if you have a permit already.Try a local gun club that is a good place to start.Some require that a ref know's you for at least one year and live in the county for a minimum of six months.New York is very restrictive so the waiting game begins.The character referances are part of your back round investigation.
 
RE:References

I ran into a similar problem, I moved back to Cheektowaga after 5 years of living out of state. I had 4 great references a Corrections Officer, an Air Marshal, a NYS Trooper and a Niagara Falls Park Officer; all of which I have know for over 10 years and all who live outside of Cheektowaga. I called the Permit Office and explained my situation and they said that they would not accept it if my references live outside my town. I even called my local PD and they told me that they make no exceptions and his exact words were "it seems I am stacking the chips in my favor with my references". I told him that I doubt these officers would put their reputation on the line just so I could get a permit. I told the officer that its sad I have to use semi-casual acquaintances who really couldn't offer a valid reference to my character because of some silly policy. He told me the reason for the policy is because they like to run the references as well to get an idea of their character as well. They are able to access their record, see how many times the cops were called to their residence, so on and so on. Its a bit ridiculous but alas what choice to we have. No luck, so I had to ask around and use people who knew me through work and neighbors. Good luck.
 
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