The Erie County Libertarian Party has filed a lawsuit against N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo challenging the state’s pistol permit law. Called the Sullivan Act after the Tammany Hall politician who sponsored it in 1911, the law requires residents to obtain a permit to own any firearm small enough to be concealed.
The group claims the law is “overly burdensome” for several reasons. One is cost: In NYC, fees total nearly $430—and since they’re non-refundable, you may be paying through the nose just to be told, “No.” Wait times are also at issue: NYC’s application states waits of up to eight months aren’t uncommon, and Rochester’s county clerk requests applicants not even bother asking about application status until after nine months. Furthermore, differences in policies and procedures—and who’s in charge of permitting—mean the odds of approval vary greatly between counties.
The suit is currently before U.S. District Judge Frank Geraci Jr.
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