PL 400.4-A    "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."

    First, read any gun articles that you can but do not get hung up on the "WONDER GUN OF THE YEAR" or the "BEST CALIBER FOR XXXXX."  If you take your Firearms Training Class early, you will have some idea of what to look for.  Look over the list of the ranges and stores in Orange County and start looking and talking to as many people as you can.  (You will have never met so many experts!)  Make sure that you look at "Do I have to buy a gun?" and  BUYING YOUR FIRST GUN AND LEARNING HOW TO SHOOT  for more discussion. ) (You should buy a 22 Cal. as soon as you can.) You can not legally handle a firearm without a license but most FFL's, (Federal Firearms License holders,) will allow you to after you tell them that you have put in your application.  After you make a decision on what gun you want to buy, all you do is put down a deposit, normally no more than 10%, and then give a copy of the receipt to the Sheriff's Department when you go for your final interview. Stores are accustomed to holding the gun while the application is processed and should give almost a full refunds if something happens, but you should check in advance with the seller for their policy and to see if they charge a restocking fee.
     If you are getting a gun to go on your original license by any other method other than buying a gun from a NY State FFL, contact the Sheriff's Department to see what paperwork they will require. Some of the other ways you would get a gun to go on your original license would be for someone to allow you to put a gun on your license that they have on their NY license, a gun you obtain because of a death or if you are moving into the NY State and need to transport your guns into the state.

WHAT ARE THE STATE REQUIREMENTS?
(Note that on Nov. 1st, 2000, new gun control laws will require that you be 21 years old to get a license.)

 
PL400.0-0
    1.  Eligibility.  No license shall be issued or renewed pursuant to this section except by the licensing officer, and then only after investigation and finding that all statements in a proper application  for  a license  are  true.  No license shall be issued or renewed except for an applicant (a) twenty-one years of age or older, provided, however,  that where  such  applicant  has  been  honorably  discharged from the United States army, navy, marine corps,  air  force  or  coast  guard,  or  the national  guard  of the state of New York, no such age restriction shall apply; (b) of good moral character;  (c)  who  has  not  been  convicted anywhere of a felony or a serious offense; (d) who has stated whether he or  she  has  ever  suffered  any mental illness or been confined to any hospital or institution, public or private, for mental illness; (e)  who has  not had a license revoked or who is not under a suspension or ineligibility order issued pursuant to the provisions of section  530.14  of the  criminal  procedure law or section eight hundred forty-two-a of the family court act;(f)  in  the  county  of  Westchester, ... , (i), ... (ii), ... (g) ...
    3. Applications. (a) Applications shall be made and  renewed,  in  the case  of  a  license  to  carry  or possess a pistol or revolver, to the licensing officer in the city or county, as the case may be,  where  the applicant resides, is principally employed or has his principal place of business  as  merchant  or storekeeper; and, in the case of a license as gunsmith or dealer in firearms, to  the  licensing  officer  where  such place  of  business  is located. ... An  application shall state the full name, date of birth, residence, present occupation of each person or individual signing the same, whether or not he is a citizen of the United States, whether or  not  he complies  with each requirement for eligibility specified in subdivision one of this section and such other facts as may be required to show the good  character,  competency  and integrity of each person or individual signing the application. An application shall be signed and verified  by the  applicant.  Each individual signing an application shall submit one photograph of himself and a duplicate for  each  required  copy  of  the application.  Such  photographs shall have been taken within thirty days prior to filing the application.

    Most people who apply for a license will apply under PL 400.(2), Types of licenses. ... "(f)  have  and  carry  concealed, without  regard to employment or place of possession, by any person when proper cause exists for the issuance thereof;".  This is the type of license that is used for target practice, fishing, hunting, and other uses and contains the infamous "PROPER CAUSE EXISTS". This is the type of license that allows you to carry your handgun concealed and loaded.
      If your license is "UNRESTRICTED" then you may carry your handgun loaded and concealed at any time or place where it is legal to do so.
     If your license is "RESTRICTED" then you can only carry your handgun concealed and loaded as outlined by your restrictions such as "Permission to carry restricted to going to, from and on bona fide target shooting, hunting & fishing." or the so called "Business Restriction"; "While carrying large amounts of money" or "While conducting business".
     Everyone should always request an "UNRESTRICTED" license. Your Judge will first decide if you get a license. Only after the Judge approves your license will the Judge have to decide if your license is "RESTRICTED" or "UNRESTRICTED". If the Judge does not want to issue you an "UNRESTRICTED" license he will still issue a "RESTRICTED" license.

[] *POSSESS ON PREMISES

     This is the type of license that you will apply for if you only want to keep your gun at a single location. You can choose one of two locations.:

• (a) have and possess in his dwelling  by  a  householder;
• (b) have  and possess in his place of business by a merchant or storekeeper;

     With this license you are not legally able to take your gun from the Premises for any reason. You do not have to show any "Proper Cause" so in effect it is a shall issue license however I know of no one in Orange County that has this type of license so I do not know how the Judges handle it.

[] * POSSESS/CARRY DURING EMPLOYMENT

     This covers people who need to carry as part of their employment. Normally a "CARRY CONCEALED" is all anyone needs but if you need to go into NY City as part of your job, this is the only type of license that will be valid after you comply with NY City rules and regulations. I know of no one in Orange County that has this type of license so I do not know how the Judges handle it.

A LICENSE IS REQUIRED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON:

     No one can tell you what to put on your application. You will have a meeting with your Judge and he/she will decide if you have shown "PROPER CAUSE" to #1. get a license and #2. get an unrestricted license. Again some Judges will give unrestricted license most of the time if you ask, some will almost never give an unrestricted license and some are in the middle. No one can tell you what any one Judge will do with your application. Again, even if you request an unrestricted license and the Judge does not want to give you one, you will still get a restricted license.
     I would suggest putting down: "Request Unrestricted License for, FILL IN THE BLANK, and other lawful purposes."  For most people it will look like: "Request unrestricted license for Hunting, Target Shooting, Fishing, Camping, Hiking and other lawful purposes." Always add anything else that you need a license for such as "when carrying large sums of money." 

 PL400.00
2.  Types of licenses. A license for gunsmith or dealer in firearms shall be issued to engage in such business. A license for  a  pistol  or revolver,  other  than  an  assault  weapon or a disguised gun, shall be issued to (a) have and possess in his dwelling  by  a  householder;  (b) have  and possess in his place of business by a merchant or storekeeper; (c) have and carry concealed while so employed by a  messenger  employed by  a  banking  institution  or  express  company;  (d)  have  and carry concealed by a justice of the supreme court in the first or second judicial departments, or by a judge of the New York city civil court or  the New  York  city  criminal  court;  (e) have and carry concealed while so employed by a regular employee of an institution of the state, or of any county, city, town or  village,  under  control  of  a  commissioner  of correction  of  the city or any warden, superintendent or head keeper of any state prison, penitentiary, workhouse, county jail or other institution for the detention of persons convicted or accused of crime or  held as witnesses in criminal cases, provided that application is made therefor  by  such  commissioner,  warden, superintendent or head keeper; (f) have and carry concealed, without  regard  to  employment  or  place  of possession,  by  any  person  when  proper cause exists for the issuance thereof; and (g) have, possess, collect and carry antique pistols  which are  defined as follows: ...

    This site is not a legal reference so look it up yourself, ask a lawyer or buy a book.  "The Book", (the 2002 editions is over 440 pages long,) that you will see on the bookshelf of most  lawyers, Judges and Police stations is:

"GUN CONTROL IN NEW YORK"
NEW YORK'S FIREARMS AND WEAPONS LAWS
by
Lt. Lee O. Thomas, NY State Police, Ret. & Jeffrey Chamberlain, Attorney at Law

This question is covered by PL 400.00 (8)

8. License: exhibition and display.  Every licensee while carrying a pistol or revolver shall have on his person a license to carry the same.  Every person license to possess a pistol or revolver on particular premises shall have the license for the same on such premises.  Upon demand, the license shall be exhibited for inspection to any peace officer, who is acting pursuant to his special duties, or police officer. . . .  Failure of any licensee to so exhibit or display his license, as the case may be, shall be presumptive evidence that he is not duly licensed.

    You do not have to be a criminal to end up with an unlicensed gun.  A dead relative might leave you a gun, or you might have moved into the state without realizing that you need a license even for a gun that you have locked and stored away, and I have known someone who, while doing renovations, discovered several old guns hidden in the wall of a house they had lived in for several years.  New York State law does allow you an easy way to turn in a firearm so that you can sell it, or get a license and have it returned to you after you have the license, but you must follow the rules or the fact that you have the firearm can be grounds for refusing your license (or even get you arrested).  FFLs, (gun stores), can put the firearm on their books and hold it while you take care of the license requirements. CLICK HERE TO SEE MY SECTION 'HOW TO TURN IN A GUN'.  IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CALL YOUR LAWYER!  [See: PL 400.05 (6) & 265.20 (1) (f)]

I'VE BEEN A BAD PERSON.

    From the license application: "HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ARRESTED OR INDICTED ANYWHERE FOR ANY OFFENSE, INCLUDING DWI (EXCEPT TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS)? Look at the bottom of the application, "ANY OMISSION OF FACT OR ANY FALSE STATEMENT WILL BE SUFFICIENT CAUSE TO DENY THIS APPLICATION AND CONSTITUTES A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY FINE, IMPRISONMENT, OR BOTH."

    No matter how long ago, where or what the outcome was, you must report every time that you have been arrested.  Failure to do so will be grounds to not issue you a license.  If it was something minor that happened a long time ago, it might not be a problem, but you will have to talk to the Sheriff's Department on how to handle it.  It is better to list something and be wrong than not to list what might turn out to be an arrest.  Just because the charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were found not guilty, or you had some other outcome, or the charges were sealed, that does not erase the fact that you were arrested.  If you were arrested for anything, in any state, the Sheriff's Department will find out.  If you were arrested you might have to supply a letter of disposition from the court where you were arrested.  It is the court where you were arrested that will have to give you  the letter of disposition and you will have to contact them.  Your issuing judge will have the final and only say in issuing the license.  The Judge is ruling on your "GOOD MORAL CHARACTER," on the day the Judge issues you your license.
    If you have had a major problem there is still hope, but you will have to talk to a lawyer.  OPINIONS OF THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL:  "October 18, 1971 (formal No. 71-8):  A "certificate of relief from disabilities" allows a convicted felon to apply for a pistol license.  If such a license is issued, the licensee may possess registered firearms without committing an offense.  PL 265.20 (3),  PL 400.00(1): Corrections Law 701. Similarly, November 24, 1975 (informal No. 75-306)
    Attempts are being made to disallow this solution and the State Attorney General could change his opinion.  Talk to your lawyer for current information.

FROM BATF WEB PAGE: http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b3(A10) Q. How can a person convicted of a felony have his or her gun privileges restored?
A. Under the provisions of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), convicted felons and certain other persons are prohibited from possessing firearms. (See 18 U.S.C. section 922(g).) The GCA provides the Secretary of the Treasury with the authority to grant relief from this disability where the Secretary determines that the person is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to the public safety. (See 18 U.S.C. section 925(c).) The Secretary delegated this authority to ATF.
    Since October 1992, however, ATF's annual appropriation has continuously prohibited the expending of any funds to investigate or act upon applications for relief from Federal firearms disabilities. This restriction is located in Pub. L. No. 106-554, 114 Stat. 2763, which contains ATF appropriations for fiscal year 2001. As long as this provision is included in current ATF appropriations, the Bureau cannot act upon applications for restoration of Federal firearms privileges submitted by individuals. Consequently, we cannot entertain any individual's request for firearms restoration while this prohibition on the processing of such applications remains in place.
    Furthermore, the restriction contained in Pub. L. No. 106-554 does not change the status of prohibited persons. They are still prohibited from possessing, receiving, transporting, or shipping firearms under Federal law.

(A11) Q. Are there any alternatives for restoration of firearms privileges? [Back]
A. Current alternatives for restoration of Federal firearms privileges are as follows:
    Persons convicted of a Federal offense may apply for a Presidential pardon for restoration of Federal firearms privileges. Sections 1.1 through 1.10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 28, specify the rules governing petitions for obtaining Presidential pardons. You may contact the Pardon Attorney's Office at the U.S. Department of Justice, 500 First Street, NW., Washington, DC 20530, to inquire about the procedures for obtaining a Presidential pardon.
    Persons convicted of a State offense may contact the State Attorney General's Office within the State in which they reside for information concerning any alternatives that may be available.

If I have additional questions, what section should I contact?
Please address your questions, in writing, to the ATF Restoration Section at the following address:

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
P.O. Box 50220
Tech World Post Office
Washington, DC 20091
ATTN: Restoration Section

UPDATE 10/02/02 High court rules on felons' gun rights CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SUPREME COURT RULLING (PDF FILE) ASSOCIATED PRESS      The Supreme Court blocked felons from going straight to court to get their gun rights restored, rejecting arguments yesterday that those people have nowhere else to go. Justices didn't get into the constitutional arguments about limitations on the right to keep and bear arms. In a brief decision, they ruled unanimously that courts can intervene only after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has rejected a request. However, Congress already has barred the ATF from considering such requests.       The high court's message for a Texas man who wanted to get around the ban: too bad. The case had the backing of gun-rights supporters, who contend that Thomas Bean and others convicted of nonviolent crimes should not permanently lose their gun rights. The Bush administration argued against Mr. Bean, despite the Justice Department's position that the Constitution guarantees an individual right to gun ownership. Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the court's conservative members, wrote the decision. He said the ATF, not a judge, was best prepared to look into whether an applicant could be a danger to public safety. The ruling mentions the ATF ban, but offers no opinion of it.      Mr. Bean, a gun dealer, was convicted of violating Mexican law after officers found 200 rounds of ammunition in his car during a dinner trip across the border four years ago. Mr. Bean can return to lower courts to argue that the Mexican conviction does not classify him as a felon in the United States. Felons are prohibited by federal law from carrying guns, but they can ask the government for exceptions. When Mr. Bean tried to get back his gun rights, and his livelihood, he was supported by two police chiefs, a sheriff, a judge, a prosecutor and a Baptist preacher. Because the ATF wouldn't review his case, he sued. A lower court restored Mr. Bean's firearms license, but yesterday's decision reversed that.      Each year since 1992, Congress has included in the ATF's budget a ban on using money to do background checks for felons, which cost an estimated $3,700 each. Nelson Lund, a law professor at George Mason University, said the court's decision moves the debate to the Capitol."Congress created this situation, and they can fix it, which they may do when the Republicans have control of both houses and the presidency," Mr. Lund said.      Mathew Nosanchuk, litigation director for the Violence Policy Center, a gun-control group, predicted the court's decision will end the effort to give felons gun rights."I don't think any member of Congress wants to be standing up in favor of restoring gun privileges to convicted felons," he said.      The National Rifle Association did not file arguments in the case, but other gun-rights supporters backed Mr. Bean. "If courts can make decisions about whether someone can be executed, it seems to me that they ought to be competent to make a decision about whether somebody can have their rights restored," said William Gustavson, a lawyer for the Second Amendment Foundation.

S 400.10 Report of theft or loss of a firearm, rifle or shotgun.
            1.  (a) Any owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm, rifle or shotgun who suffers the loss or  theft  of  said  weapon shall within  twenty-four  hours  of the discovery of the loss or theft report the facts and circumstances of the loss or theft to a police  department or sheriff`s office.
          ...
           3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a  violation  of  paragraph (a) of subdivision one of this section shall be punishable only by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars.