What's happening
This bill allows county sheriffs outside New York City to issue pistol permits if they choose to become licensing officers.
Why it matters
Expands local decision-making. By allowing sheriffs outside NYC to become licensing officers, the bill could give rural and suburban communities more direct control over how pistol permits are reviewed and issued, possibly reflecting local priorities or attitudes toward gun ownership.
Potential for faster or more accessible permitting. Some counties might see reduced wait times or easier access to pistol permits if their sheriff chooses to participate, especially in areas where judges or justices are less available or have higher caseloads.
Creates variability across counties. Because the decision is left up to each sheriff, the process and standards for obtaining a pistol permit could become more inconsistent across New York State, potentially leading to confusion or legal challenges regarding uniformity and fairness.
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Who cares
County sheriffs outside New York City
The bill would let them elect to become licensing officers authorized to issue licenses to carry or possess pistols or revolvers.
Pistol and revolver license applicants outside New York City
Applicants would have an additional licensing option if their county sheriff elects to issue licenses.
Judges and justices who issue firearm licenses
The bill would allow county sheriffs to issue pistol and revolver licenses alongside existing licensing officers.
Suffolk County sheriff and license applicants
The bill would remove the sheriff’s existing designation as licensing officer outside five specified towns and instead make the sheriff’s licensing role elective.
Headline styles
Let Sheriffs Issue Gun Permits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in codes
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Sheriffs Issue Pistol Permits
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Robert Ortt
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1595
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. HAWLEY, B. MILLER, BLANKENBUSH, CROUCH, DiPIETRO, GIGLIO, LAWRENCE, MORINELLO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to authorizing the sheriff of any county to issue pistol permits
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 10 of section 265.00 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 210 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
10. "Licensing officer" means in the city of New York the police commissioner of that city; in the county of Nassau the commissioner of police of that county; [in the county of Suffolk the sheriff of that county except] in the towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip and Smithtown, the commissioner of police of [that] Suffolk county; for the purposes of section 400.01 of this chapter the superintendent of state police; and elsewhere in the state a judge or justice of a court of record having his office in the county of issuance. A license to carry or possess a pistol or revolver under section 400.00 of this chapter may also be issued by the sheriff of a county outside of the city of New York if such sheriff elects to become a licensing officer.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02370-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.