Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Bloomberg actually wants to make gun permit process easier


From the NY Times:

The Bloomberg administration announced on Friday that it was moving to simplify the process for New Yorkers to obtain gun permits, thus speeding up a set of byzantine licensing requirements that gun-rights advocates have long criticized as among the most restrictive in the country.

Administration officials said that the move was forged by a City Hall focused on efficiency and that it would allow for better investigation of applicants who might not qualify for a gun while more swiftly satisfying those fit to have them.

But the timing of the decision was curious to some, as it follows a 2008 Supreme Court ruling that struck down parts of the gun-control law in the District of Columbia and subsequent challenges to gun laws in other places.

The announcement was an unexpected turn for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has made national headlines with his efforts to take guns out of criminals’ hands and stem their trafficking, like using private investigators to pose as gun buyers in sting operations and suing gun dealers in several states.

In New York, the Police Department issues licenses to possess handguns, rifles and shotguns in the city, and to carry them. The application process for a handgun is laid out on the department’s Web site. To get a gun, applicants must go to 1 Police Plaza. The fee is $340, not including a $94.25 fingerprint-check fee. Weeks of waiting can follow. There is also a process for license renewal.

For a residential possession permit, applicants must demonstrate that they are not prohibited from gun ownership by having, for example, a history of domestic violence or arrest or conviction. These words on the Web site highlight just how subjective disapproval for a handgun is: “If your investigation results in a determination that you lack character and fitness for a license permit, your application will be denied.”

For a permit to carry a gun, the bar is higher. The prospective gun owner must “show a need,” said a police spokesman. An example might be a part-time security worker.

One change outlined on Friday is geared toward transparency by having the police “offer more detailed examples of eligibility standards for a permit, and make the additional examples available both in print and online,” according to a news release from the mayor’s office.

Other changes include speeding up reviews of applications, reducing how many in-person visits new applicants must make, expanding ways to pay for license renewals and opening the Police Department’s licensing offices one evening a week. Also, at a time when other fees are rising or staying flat, one change calls for slashing fees for most renewal licenses, but Mr. Post said no specific amounts had been proposed. He said some fees might rise.

“This package will make New Yorkers safer,” he said, adding that the city was not now facing any legal challenges to its licensing system.

19 comments:

georgetheatheist said...

Why the 340 bucks?

www.nra.org

Mayor M. Bloomtard said...

Up is down!
Right is left!
North is south!
Black is white!
Hot is cold!

Getting it yet?

Mayor Mike said...

I need to appease the voters when I run for my 4th term.

Anonymous said...

I don't see a problem with this. Thugs already have guns, so let's even out the playing field so we can have a few more Bernie Goetz's.

Anonymous said...

He better watch out cause some pissed off New Yorker is gonna blow his ass away....

Anonymous said...

Yeah, what's the problem? Why can't a law abiding citizen own a gun? Thugs don't bother to get permits.

Anonymous said...

love it! i'm going to apply..

Anonymous said...

Why the 340 bucks?

-----------------------

because its a tax.

Its not a "license fee" its a tax, but if they called it the "gun ownership tax" people would be upset.

Instead, its a "processing charge".

ChristineQuinn's Slush funds. said...

Permits for the rich only because they are afraid of a revolution. get the torches and pitch forks out!!!!!

Eustice said...

The mayor changed nothing.
This is just a scam since they can still deny you for any reason and take your money.
The mayor is trolling for more that $340 tax to process applications.
Make no mistake those applicants will be put in a "watch list" data base

Only the Mayor rich friends and special interests will get those permits.
Like said: The bankers, speculators, developers, judges are afraid of getting their ass kicked.
They are now lobbing the mayor and NYPD

nra.org

Anonymous said...

what a dick , he needs the money , the hell with safty

Anonymous said...

Like Hitler Bloomberg is arming his posse.

Average voters will still have no chance of getting those gun permits.

georgetheatheist said...

"...the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." - The 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution

A $340 "fee" plus $94.25 for finger-printing. Total: $434.25

Looks like a helluva a lot of "infringement" to me.

Did the NYPD ever hear of a poll tax?

www.nra.org
------------------------------

[x] Male
[x] No, Not of Latino, Hispanic, or Spanish origin
[x] White

Chris said...

Yea i think any charge over what it costs to process that is unconstitutional.

Anonymous said...

Its a trap and part of the HR45 Bill to establish a NATIONAL registry and "lookout list" to grab all the guns, parts and ammo !
http://www.rense.com/general88/gunfree.htm

They will take info, fingerprints then automatically deny 99.9% of the applicants $ keep the $$
They will then spy on you.
-In that order.

They pulled this shit in Australia then grabbed ALL the guns 2 year later.
Crime tripled

Anonymous said...

Its a trap and part of the HR45 Bill to establish a NATIONAL registry and "lookout list" to grab all the guns, parts and ammo !
http://www.rense.com/general88/gunfree.htm


Way to totally invalidate anything you've said by using rense.com as a source.

Anonymous said...

And by the way, before the rense.com domain name was used, they used the domain name sightings.com (yes, as in UFO related). That should tell you about the quality of that website.

Anonymous said...

Is that $340 or $434.25 plus a simplified process for obtaining a target/premises permit?

It's nigh impossible to get a carry permit in NYC unless you've got a damn good reason...like you're a PI, jewelry courier, etc.

Queens Crapper said...

Why does Joan Rivers have one?