NOTE

I still get people who fail to list an arrest for minor charges.  IF YOU FAIL TO LIST AN ARREST, DON'T EXPECT TO GET A LICENSE. THE JUDGE DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR THAT YOU FORGOT BEING ARRESTED! (How stupid do you think that you sound to the Judge when you say that you forgot the only time that you have been handcuffed, placed in the back of a cop car, read your rights, been fingerprinted, searched, placed in a jail cell, appeared for arraignment, hired a lawyer and gone to trial.)

Just remember that the sooner you turn in your application, the sooner you get your license.

HOW TO GET A PISTOL LICENSE IN ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK

    It is not difficult to get a pistol license in Orange County if you are 21 years old, qualify and follow the county and state requirements.  It will cost you a small amount of money and a few months for the paperwork to go through, a few hours for a class and some meetings but generally all you do is turn in your application, pay your money and wait. It is easier than you think, (but to be honest, it would be a lot easier if we lived in many other states.)   If you have no major problems in your background and can get four people to sign as references, then you should have no problem.
    If you are between 14 and 21 a new law passed in 2006 prevents you from getting a license but the new law allows you to shoot at a range under supervision.  (See below.)

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INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO ORANGE COUNTY

GETTING AN APPLICATION. WHEN AND WHERE TO TURN IN YOUR APPLICATION. WHAT ARE ORANGE COUNTY'S REQUIREMENTS? HOW DO I GET MY FIRST GUN FOR MY LICENSE? WHAT IS THE REQUIRED FIREARMS TRAINING CLASS? WHO WILL MY JUDGE BE? HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? SPECIAL UPDATE HOW DO I GET MY LICENSE AFTER THE LICENSE IS APPROVED?

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Because of the size of the file this page has been split into several pages.
Click on the colored heading to go to the related page.

INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC NEW YORK STATE REQUIREMENTS

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? HOW DO I BUY MY FIRST GUN? WHAT ABOUT RESTRICTION ON MY LICENSE? WHAT ARE THE STATE REQUIREMENTS? WHAT TYPE OF LICENSE SHOULD I APPLY FOR? WHAT ARE SOME STATE LAWS THAT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? WHEN DO I HAVE TO CARRY MY LICENSE AND AMENDMENTS? I HAVE A GUN BUT NO LICENSE. I'VE BEEN A BAD PERSON.

OTHER INFORMATION, THE FEDERAL BRADY LAW & MYTHS

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION. WHAT ABOUT THE BRADY LAW AND NICS CHECK? POPULAR MYTHS PEPPER SPRAY

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INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO ORANGE COUNTY

GETTING AN APPLICATION:

The original source for all applications is:

Orange County Clerks Office,  Pistol Permit Department; (Gun stores sometimes have applications and amendments to hand out if you ask.)

The office has moved and is now at the back of Valley View in

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS 

   The application will give you all of the instructions for filling out the pistol application and will tell you everything that you need to know.
    The people who work in the office are very nice and will try as hard as they can to help you and to supply you with the information that you request.  You can stop by and pick up an application and a list of where and who teaches the Orange County required Safety Class or they will mail you an application and list.  (I am on the list.)  Just remember that they can not tell you when or how a judge will rule on your application or make judges work any faster.  They can not tell you what to fill in on the application so that you get what you want. They also have other jobs to do so just remember that your request might not be the most important thing that they must do on any given day.

2013 CHANGE The Sheriff's Office is now requiring that you make an appointment to get fingerprinted and to turn in you application. CALL 291-7932

2012 CHANGE The fee for the fingerprinting has changed and is now $91.50. Fingerprinting Hours for the Orange County Sheriff's Department: Monday 10:30 AM  to 12:00 Noon Wednesday  3:30 PM to 5:30 PM Friday 10:30AM to 12:00 Noon 1st & 3rd Saturday 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon

2009/2010 CHANGES The Orange County Sheriff's Department has added additional hours by adding Friday 10:30 to Noon and not requiring appointments on Wed. They have also changed how they do the interview. If you have all of your paperwork, (a copy of: 1. receipt for a handgun, 2. safety class certificate and 3. your letter justifying your need for an unrestricted license,) when you turn in your pistol application and reference letters, they will try to do your interview then so you will not have to come back.  If you don't have your paperwork you can give it do them at a latter date.  (They prefer you fax everything to them at 291-7686 but if you mail it please put Attention Pistol Permits on the letter.)  Also if you provided two forms of ID that shows you live where you live they will sometimes wave the home visit. The best IDs are cable, phone, oil, gas & electric bills that show your name and address. 6/2007 CHANGES      The Orange County Sheriff's Department has some new equipment that they are using to process pistol application so some changes are being made to the forms and process.      You will no longer need to get the additional pictures, a savings of $10. You will also not have to get ink on your fingers. The whole process is being computerized.      The biggest change is that once you get your fingerprints done, you will have 60 to complete the forms and return them. The 60 day time limit starts when you have your fingerprints done.       After you turn in your filled in application they still have to do all of the other checks so it might not speed up the process too much.      You will not have to have your receipt for the gun you are adding to your license or your safety class certificate until you have your Sheriff's Department interview. If you have the stuff when you turn in your application and want to turn it in, that is OK also. YOU MUST USE BLACK INK ON ALL OF THE FORMS INCLUDING THE CHARACTER REFERENCE FORM

1/1/05 CHANGES      Starting Jan. 1, 2005 it will cost you $10 to pick up a pistol license application. The law allows them to charge the fee and in the past you paid the $10 when you turned in your application. The reason for the change is that people were picking up applications and never turning them in so they were handing out thousands of applications but only getting a few hundred back.      They will stamp your application when you pick it up and give you a receipt. You have to keep the receipt when to show the Orange County Sheriff's Department as proof of payment when you hand in your application.       Don't complain about the $10. It cost them much more than $10 to provide the applications and to process the paperwork. The $10 fee was written into the law decades ago and has never been changed. Several counties have had the law changed to have renewable licenses and to increase the fees. Nassau County charges $200 for a 5 year license, and NY City charges $340 for a 3 year license. In 2004, Pataki tried to introduce 5 year renewable licenses with $100 going to NY State and each county being allowed to charge anything that they want and you know that some counties would have charged $1,000 or more per gun. Now you can expect the anti-gun people in the NY Assembly and Senate to introduce a renewable license bill every year from now on until it passes. Just another reason to join not only the NRA but also NY State groups like SCOPE: The Shooter's Committee On Political Education, New York State Rifle and Pistol Association or the Orange County Federation of Sportsmen.

SIMPLE OUTLINE OF THE PROCESS Pick up your application at the Pistol License Department in Goshen and pay your $10 Fill out your paperwork, get your Postal Money Order and go to the Sheriff's Department to turn in your paperwork and get fingerprinted.  At this time the Sheriff's Department will enter your information into the the computer, print your application with fingerprints and give your your actual application along with your character reference questionnaires. Get your reference questionnaires filled out and your application signed. Put down a deposit on a gun and attend your safety class. Go back to the Sheriff's Department and turn in everything and have your interview. (If you don't have gun deposit or Safety Class certificate, ask them what they want you to do. You can hand it in latter.)  You might have to have your interview latter. Wait. (If you don't hear anything in a few months, call the Pistol License Department to see where your application is.  If the Judge has had your application for several weeks you can alway call the Judge's office to find out what is going on. Be nice!) Depending on what you requested and who your judge is you might get a letter to go see your Judge. You will get a letter from the Pistol License Department telling you to come in and pick up your license.

Pistol Permits Requirements
(List by the Pistol Permit Department)
(I have include links and my comments in Orange.)
Updated 2/15/05

1. Applicant must be 21 years of age and an Orange County Resident.
2. Applicant must take a HANDGUN SAFETY COURSE (List of instructors available at Orange County Clerks Office) (You do NOT have to take the safety class before you turn in your application.)
3. Must purchase a weapons or have dual users with another Pistol Permit holder.
4. Four Orange County References. They must live here (It does not matter who they are.)
5. Must be finger printed for FBI and State Clearance, at the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
6. Fees $91.50 made out to Orange County Commissioner of Finance.  Postal Money Order ONLY (Changed fee 3/29/12)
7. You cannot be convicted of a felony
8. Turn in complete application to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
9. Takes 2-3 months, ( but NY law allows up to 6 months.)

UNOFFICIAL COPIES OF INSTRUCTIONS 
AND  QUESTIONS ON FORMS
* Please note that the instruction or forms can change without notice.
Always follow the instructions given to you with your application.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTANING A PISTOL PERMIT

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PISTOL PERMIT APPLICATION

PISTOL PERMIT PEDIGREE SHEET

ADDITIONAL ARREST SHEET

NYS PISTOL/REVOLVER LICENSE APPLICATION FORM

CHARACTER REFERENCE FORM

ARREST AFFIADVIT

WHEN AND WHERE TO TURN IN YOUR APPLICATION:

    After you have filled out the "Pedigree sheet" and have your "Arrest Affidavit" notarized you will go to the Sheriff's Department to be fingerprinted and turn the application in to the I. D. officer.  NOTE: You can call 291-7687 for directions and hours. NOTE: Remember to bring the receipt for $10 as proof that you paid the application fee when you picked up your application. The instructions with the application will provide the phone numbers and dates and times you can have your fingerprints taken.

The Sheriff's Office is now requiring that you make an appointment to get fingerprinted and to turn in you application. CALL 291-7932

Fingerprinting Hours for the Orange County Sheriff's Department:

Monday 10:30 AM  to 12:00 Noon
Wednesday  3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Friday 10:30AM to 12:00 Noon
1st & 3rd Saturday 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon

Turn north on 6 1/2 Station Rd. (Healey Brothers is on the corner.)	Take a left on to Wells Farm Rd.	Drive all the way around back and go in the door.

      You can fill out and turn in your application before you are 21 but NY State law requires that you be 21 to get a license.  Because state law only gives the issuing Judge 6 months to issue a license without explaining why it is taking so long, you do not gain anything by turning in your license application more than 6 months before your 21st birthday.  It is taking between 3 and 6 months to process and issue pistol licenses with 4 months being about the average.  The new law also allows people between 14 and 21 to shoot a handgun under 265.20 (7-e) so you do not need a license for that and you can shoot when you are taking the required safety class.

7-e. Possession and use of a pistol or revolver,  at  an  indoor  or outdoor  pistol  range  located in or on premises owned or occupied by a duly incorporated organization organized for conservation purposes or to foster proficiency in small arms or at a target pistol shooting competition under the auspices of or approved by an association or organization described in paragraph 7-a of this subdivision for the purpose of  loading  and  firing the same by a person at least fourteen years of age but under the age of twenty-one who has not been previously convicted  of  a felony  or  serious  offense,  and  who does not appear to be, or pose a threat to be, a danger to himself or to others; provided  however,  that such  possession  shall  be of a pistol or revolver duly licensed to and shall be used under the immediate supervision, guidance and  instruction of, a person specified in  paragraph seven of this subdivision. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

WHAT ARE ORANGE COUNTY'S REQUIREMENTS?

    Orange County really has only a few additional requirements:
    First is that the four Orange County residents who sign as character references on your application must fill in a short and simple questionnaire.   You will be given 4 copies of the questionnaire when you get your Pistol License Application at the Sheriff's Department when you are fingerprinted.. You are  responsible for having your character references fill out the questionnaire THAT MUST BE NOTARIZED.  You will then turn in the four questionnaires when you turn in your application to the Sheriff's Department. Talk to the Sheriff's Department if you are new to the area and have a hard time finding the four Orange County residents.  You may use anyone that you know who lives in Orange County no matter how long that they have known you.  You may use your boss, your real-estate agent, your postmen, your banker, your insurance agent or anyone else.  (The people who sign as references are not admitting any legal responsibility for you and their names are not on your license or any public record.)
     Some people have had a problem with people failing to return their references questionnaire. Because of this you should make a copy of a blank questionnaire and do not let the people sign your application yet. When you go to pick up the notarized questionnaire then have the people sign the application. If you have the people sign the application first and then for some reason you never get the notarized questionnaire back then you have a problem because their name is still on your application.

Pistol Permit Reference Forms must be notarized in the presence of the signatory, 4/15/04      The Orange County Sheriff's Office is encountering problems with pistol permit applications. At present, 4 character reference forms are to be submitted notarized with the application. The Sheriff's Department has done some spot checks on the notarizations, and has found that some notaries are notarizing the forms not in the presence of the signatory. This is a violation of law that the Department of State does not tolerate, nor does the Sheriff's Department. When submitting pistol permit applications, please ensure that each character reference form is signed in the presence of a notary. The Sheriff's Office takes the issuance of a pistol permit very seriously, and will deny processing the permit if any laws are broken for convenience or to cut corners.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A COPY OF THE CHARACTER REFERENCE FORM      A second requirement is that you sign and have notarized the ARREST AFFIDAVIT. This is because so many people who have been arrested failed to report the arrest and then claimed that they did not know that they were suppose to report that arrest that happened that they had been told was "SEALED". Well their records were sealed but the arrest was not so they were found out. (See note below) (added 6/6/03)
    A third requirement is that all judges will require that applicants take a firearms training class unless you are exempt because of proof of acceptable training less than 10 years old.  (See the next topic)
    A fourth requirement is that after the Sheriff's Department has finished your background check and contacted your references, you will be mailed a request to arrange an easy meeting with an investigator for the Sheriff's Department.  (Call ASAP to make your appointment. You might have to wait a few weeks to month to get an appointment.) At this meeting you will turn in your firearms training certificate and you will also have to supply a deposit slip, (or a notarized letter of permission from the gun's owner,) with the make, model and serial number of the gun you will add to your license.  Some meetings do take place on Saturday.  This meeting with the investigator is to re-ask you the questions you answered on the original application, (Such as, "Since you turned in this application HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE TREATMENT FOR ALCOHOLISM OR DRUG USE?"), and to go over any problems that the investigation uncovered in your background.  (See PLEASE NOTE below.)  It should be an easy meeting and only take a few moments.   CLICK HERE TO  SEE A COPY OF THE INTERVIEW NOTIFICATION LETTER     An optional requirement is a meeting with your issuing Judge.  After the Sheriff's Department forwards the results of their investigation to your issuing Judge, you might get a letter to arrange a meeting with your Judge.  A meeting is not required by law but the Judge might request to meet you for many reasons such as: the type of license you requested, your restrictions, your background or he or she may just want to meet you.  Some Judges do not require a meeting when they issue a restricted license.  Do not get too upset about your meeting with your Judge.  Look on it like a job interview; be nice, say "Yes your honor, No your honor," dress nice and do not bring up the Second Amendment.  Remember that it is the Judge's job to decide if you get a license and not the Sheriff's Department.
    Orange County does not have a formal specific limit on the number of handguns that you can own. SEE: OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

ARREST: From the ARREST AFFIDAVIT and 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 ..."  The Sheriff's Department does a very good investigation. If you have ever been taken before a judge, had your fingerprints taken or been taken into custody anywhere, at any age, for any reason you would be well advised to go over the details with the Sheriff's Department before you fail to list something that should be listed and/or call your lawyer and obtain legal advice!    Also list DWAIs. Even Court files that were dismissed and sealed before you were a teenager will be found out.  It does not matter if it was a run in with the law or a mental health problem, you should not think that anything that you have done from the day you were born to the day you applied for your license will be missed in the investigation.  (I know of one person who was refused a license because they failed to list a possibly questionable ruling by a Family Court Judge when the person was less than 10 years old.)   However, just because you did do something minor years ago does not mean that you will not get a license.  Very few people have had a perfect life and I do know of people who were arrested and convicted, (I don't want to say what for,) and were still able to get a license.  It is up to your Judge to decide so let them decide.  If you want a license, fill out the application with the correct information and apply.  See: I'VE BEEN A BAD PERSON.  (I do not know what words to use to convey the message that you should be honest in filling out your application and that your Judge will be fair and will give you a fair hearing according to the law when deciding on the day the license is issued if you are a person " ... of good moral character; ...".  See PL400 under WHAT ARE THE STATE REQUIREMENTS? ) CLICK HERE TO SEE INFORMATION ABOUT SEALED COURT RECORDS

HOW DO I GET MY FIRST GUN FOR MY LICENSE?
Also see: BUYING YOUR FIRST GUN AND LEARNING TO SHOOT.)

     When you meet with the Sheriff's Department for your interview, you will have to give them the make, model and serial number of the gun/guns you will add to your license. You have 2 options:

1.      You can buy a gun from a gun store. All of the local gun stores know how this works so it is nothing new to them. You will have to pick out a gun, put down a deposit and get a deposit slip showing the make, model and serial number of the gun/guns you will add to your license. If for some reason you end up not getting you license, all of the stores that I know of will refund your deposit but they might require that you pay some restocking fee. Ask.
2.      You can have someone who owns a gun sell you a gun or allow you to add their gun/guns to your license. This will require that you turn in a notarized letter saying that you can have the guns on your license and listing the gun/guns by make, model and serial number with a copy of the owners pistol license both front and back. (After you have your license you will not be required to have the letter notarized when you turn in your amendment to the Pistol Department.)

WHAT IS THE REQUIRED FIREARMS TRAINING CLASS?

    Several years ago the Orange County Issuing Judges and others decided that no license should be issued without the applicant completing a safety class or proof of training less than 10 years old, such as Military small arms or police training.  If you are not exempt, get the list of the people and ranges that are recognized when you pick up your application.  NRA Handgun Classes that are sometimes offered by some local clubs might also be accepted.   (No agreement could be reach as to what the class would cover and the Sheriff's Department and the Judges did not implement PL 400 (3)(b) Application for an exemption under paragraph seven-b of subdivision a of section 265.20 of this chapter,  that would allow a license applicant to handle and fire a handgun.  Because of this it is technically illegal to touch or shoot a handgun while taking a safety class!  Go figure!  (This changed in 2000 and again in 2006 when a new law allows persons from 14 to 21 of age to shoot a handgun at a range under a certified instructor without a license.))  Costs for the class range between $35 to $50 or more, and the class can last from 4 hours to 10 hours for a full NRA Handgun Safety Class. Click here to see an unofficial copy of the ORANGE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICES LIST OF RECOGNIZED HANDGUN SAFETY INSTRUCTORS.
    NOTE: If you are not yet 21 you can shoot a handgun as part of your class.  Talk to your instructor.

WARNING: Several people advertise that they are NRA Instructors but do not give the official NRA Class. If you do not get an NRA Book as part of the class and if the instructor does not follow the official NRA class outline and give you an original NRA Certificate then you are not taking an NRA Class. Don't pay for something that you are not getting. (Unless you are giving an official NRA Class, the NRA does not allow you to add that you are an NRA instructor unless you include a disclaimer stating that it is not an NRA Class.) If you are not given this book and this certificate, you are not taking the NRA FIRST Steps Class. FIRST Steps Packet NRA Posters used in Class CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MY NRA FIRST Steps CLASS

WHO WILL MY JUDGE BE?

    Each county sets up its own system of how the licenses will be issued and what judges will be in charge.  Orange County divided the county up, and 6 judges issue licenses.  It is impossible to tell with a simple system who your judge will be, but the list that follows shortly will give you a good idea.  You will have to call the Pistol License Dept. and ask them if it is really important.  This is not a very uniform system because the law allows each judge to do what ever they want to do.  That means that each of the 6 judges picks out what they will require, what restrictions they will or will not put on a license and what other standards have to be met.  The judges do have some informal understanding of how some things will work and what the Sheriff's Department is required to do.  Each judge is elected for 10 years and they have to retire at age 70.  Of all of the votes that anyone can make that has a direct impact on handgun licenses in Orange County, THIS IS IT!

    All judges fall under the jurisdiction of the 9th Judicial Court.  You can contact the Judges through the County's main phone # of 291-2690.  (I would not call them.  They will contact you if they need or want to talk to you.)

Handgun Licensing Judges
This list was changed on 7/28/08

Judge's Name	Party	Elected	Towns Covered
Hon. DeRosa	Rep.	1997, 1st	City of Middletown, Town of Mt. Hope, Wallkill, Wawayanda
Hon. Lori Currier Woods	Rep.	2006, 1st.	Towns of Blooming Grove, Hamptonburgh, Woodbury
Hon. Carol Kline (Family Court)	Rep.	Appointed 5/25/00 2001, 1st	Towns of Deerpark, Greenville, Minisink, Highlands
Hon. Andrew Bivona (Family Court)	Rep.	1998, 2nd	Town of Cornwall, New Windsor
Hon. Jeffrey G. Berry	Rep.	1990	Town of Montgomery (Walden), Crawford, Monroe, Chester, and Marlboro
Hon. Robert H Freehill	Rep.	2007	Towns of Goshen, Warwick, Tuxedo, City of Port Jervis, West Point Military Academy and the City and Town of Newburgh
(On Jan. 11, 2007 Judge Freehill was given the following towns that had been covered by the following Judges: Hon. Lori Currier Woods lost Tuxedo, Warwick: Hon. Carol Kline lost City of Port Jervis, Goshen. West Point Academy is a new area.) (On 7/28/08 Judge Kiedaisch stopped issuing pistol licenses and her towns were divided between Berry, who got Marlboro and Freehill who got the City and Town of Newburgh.)

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

You will have to pay for:

• $10 When you pick up your application. (Keep the receipt, you have to show it when you turn in your application.)
• $91.50 in total when you turn in your application for your fingerprinting fee. (Postal Money order only made out to Orange County Commissioner of Finance.) SEE NOTE BELOW (The fee was decreased at the end of March 2012.)
• $35.00 to $85 for the firearms training class

    Total $139.25 to $174.25 for the application plus the cost of the gun.

NOTE: The NEW YORK STATE EXECUTIVE LAW SECTION 837 (ARTICLE 35 - DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES), was amendment EFFECTIVE 7/1/03, increasing the fingerprint processing fee from seventy four dollars ($74.00) to ninety nine dollars ($99.00). However the fee was reduced to $94.25 on Oct. 1st of 2007 when the FBI decreased the fee for the computer taken fingerprint check and reduced again to $91.50 in March of 2012.

In 2004, Gov. Mario Pataki tried to introduce 5 year renewable licenses with
$100 going to NY State and allowing counties to charge an unlimited fee.
Gov. Paterson has introduced legislation for renewable licenses starting in 2008.
Click here for more information

HOW DO I GET MY LICENSE AFTER THE LICENSE IS APPROVED?

     The Pistol Permit Department will send you a letter stating that you license is ready to be picked up. Starting in 2005 all licenses are now the plastic "drivers license' type. You will have to go to the Pistol Permit Department in Goshen to have your digital picture taken and be given your license.

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