NOTE MAJOR CHANGES IN 2018

The Pistol License Department moved back to the Gov. Center in Goshen in March.

The Sheriff’s Department is taking even more control over the Pistol License.  The biggest change is who will be issuing the pistol licenses.  In the past seven Judges, three County Criminal Court Judges and four Family Court Judges, issued pistol licenses and amendments but starting sometime in March 2018 only have the three Criminal Court Judges issue licenses and amendments. Who your Judge is should not impact your application. This is an UNOFFICAL LIST and subject to change without notice.
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO YOUR JUDGE IS.

NOTE

I still get people who fail to list an arrest for minor charges including this also includes some serious driving violations that are listed as misdemeanors like driving on a suspended license.  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 but this does not have to happen in all cases. Some violations, like driving on a suspended license are arrest even though you were only given a ticket. Check with your lawyer!)

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:

You can now download the initial application called the Pistol Permit Pedigree Sheet (PPS-01) and the Arrest / Charge Affidavit that must be notarized.
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 or they will mail you an application and 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.

2015 The application can be downloade along with the Arrest/Charge Affidavit. The Sheriff's Department started offering NON-NRA courses in April of 2014 in order to raise some more money. The course is not to as high of a standard as NRA Pistol classes. Initially the Sheriff's Department would only accept safety class certificates from instructors that they approved and who gave the Sheriff's Department’s own poor attempt at a safety course. I filed a lawsuit against the changes and on 6/15/2015 the Orange County Sheriff's Department caved and started accepting certificates from people who were not on their approved list of instructors and taught the Orange County Sheriff's Department's Course. The Orange County Sheriff's Department has made a big deal about their "list of approved and recommended instructors." While the Orange County Sheriff’s Department did require all instructors to be NRA Certified Instructors, (originally at least one of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s own instructors was not an NRA Certified Instructor,) some of the people on the list have given very few if any classes and many instructors who were previously giving the NRA class were giving a better class than the Orange County Sheriff's Department's Course. Stay tuned for additional changes required because of my lawsuit. CLICK HERE FOR MY LAWSUIT WEB PAGE

SIMPLE OUTLINE OF THE PROCESS Download your application and arrest affidavit. Pistol Permit Pedigree Sheet (PPS-01) and the Arrest / Charge Affidavit Fill out your paperwork, get your Postal Money Order and go to the Sheriff's Department to turn in your paperwork and get fingerprinted. You will have to make an appointment to get fingerprinted so call the Sheriff's Department as soon as you start the process. Depending on demand and how lucky you are four to six weeks to get a fingerprint appointment is not unusual. (Some people have had to wait up to four months or more in times of high demand but you can never tell how long it will take you to get an appointment.) MAKE THE APPOINTMENT, you should have enough time to fill out the simple paperwork.) When you turn in your "Pedigree Sheet" the Sheriff's Department will enter your information into the computer, print your application with fingerprints and picture and give your actual application along with your character reference questionnaires and check list. (And any other forms they decide that you should fill out.) Get your reference questionnaires filled out and have your references sign both copies of your application. Put down a deposit on a gun if you want to and/or fill out the "co-owned firearm" form if you are cross registering a handgun(s) with someone else and attend your safety class. Purchase of a handgun BEFORE a handgun license is issued is not required starting 3/4/16. After your license is issued you can then add a gun whenever you want to using an AMENDMENT FORM. Go back to the Sheriff's Department and turn in everything and have your interview or you might have to have to make an appointment for a later date. (If you don't have your Safety Class certificate, ask them what they want you to do. You might be able to hand it in later.) YOU DON'T HAVE TO REGISTER A HANDGUN ON YOUR INITIAL LICENSE. 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 always call the Judge's office to find out what is going on. Be nice! Starting sometime in March of 2018 the Pistol License Department might not get your application until the end of the process so they will not know if the application has been sent to the Judge or where the application is.) 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. You will go to the Pistol License Department in Goshen, have your picture taken, give them a thumb print to go on your license; they will print out your license and give you your license and "Pick up slip." You take your license and "pick up slip" and go to your gun store to pick up your handgun.

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. (CLICK HERE FOR INFORMAION ON MY CLASS)
3. You can purchase a handgun BEFORE OR AFTER you are issued a license or you can cross register handguns. (Use the Sheriff's Department's incorrectly labled "Co-owner" form.).
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 $97.00 (reduced in fall of 2016)made out to Orange County Commissioner of Finance.  Postal Money Order ONLY
7. You cannot be convicted of a felony.
8. Turn in complete application to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
9. Takes 3-5 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.

PISTOL PERMIT PEDIGREE SHEET (Orange County Link)

ARREST / CHARGE AFFIDAVIT (Orange County Link)

This is just an example of what the actual official NY State Pistol Application form looks like. NYS PISTOL/REVOLVER LICENSE APPLICATION FORM

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 and to make an appointment. The instructions with the application will provide the phone numbers and dates and times you can have your fingerprints taken. NOTE: If you still have an old application remember to bring the receipt for $10 as proof that you paid the application fee when you picked up your application.

The Sheriff's Office is now requiring that you make an appointment to get fingerprinted and to turn in your application. CALL 291-7932. They also add additional hours when they have to. Call to verify hours. It will normally take several weeks to months to get an appointment depending on demand so focus on making your fingerprint appointment first.

Check your instructions and verify hours. Standard Fingerprinting Hours for the Orange County Sheriff's Department as of 6/25/2015. (Subject to change without notice.)

NORMAL HOURS:
Monday 9:00 AM  to 12:00 Noon
Wednesday  2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM  to 12:00 Noon
1st & 3rd Saturday 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
WHEN DEMAND IS HIGH THEY HAVE ADDED SUNDAYS AND EVENING HOURS YOU WILL FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE WHEN YOU CALL FOR YOUR APPOITMENT.

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, (required by ny law,) must also fill in a short and simple questionnaire(not required by NY law.)   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 their references 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 / CHARGE 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 the arrest was "SEALED" or expunged. Your records were sealed or expunged but the arrest was not so they will be found. (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 a year old.  (See the next topic)
    A fourth requirement is that you will have to have an interview with an investigator for the Sheriff's Department to go over your form. 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.       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 / CHARGE AFFIDAVIT and the license application: "HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ARRESTED OR INDICTED ANYWHERE FOR ANY OFFENSE, INCLUDING DWI (EXCEPT TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS)?" (Driving while on a suspended license is an arrest.) 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!  Some violations of traffic laws are also arrest. If you were given a ticket for driving on a suspended drivers license it is an arrest even if you were only given a ticket.   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.)

     You no longer have to have a handgun(s) to put on your license when you apply for a handgun license. IF you want to have a handgun on your initil application you have 2 options: