"Relatively Simple Process"

Coming soon to a jurisdiction near you (if the anti-gun-owner crowd as their way) is this pistol-purchasing licensing process, which an "authorized journalist" described thusly:

Obtaining a pistol permit in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties is relatively simple, assuming you have a clean criminal record and solid references.

Here is the "relatively simple" process:

Applying for a permit
(Original Publication: December 10, 2006)

- Applications are filed with the county clerk. The standard fee is $10, with extra fingerprinting charges and possibly other costs.

- County law enforcement does background checks, including a review of FBI and state Criminal Justice Services databases. A mental health check is also done.

- A personal interview is required. Westchester conducts home visits for five or more handguns.

- (FOUR) References are required. Some counties ask for someone else to be responsible for weapons if a permit becomes inactive. Rockland requires other adults in the home to sign off.

- If police are satisfied, they recommend approval.

- The application then goes to a county court judge, who has final say. The judge can require more investigation or an interview, or deny the application despite police approval.

This is the not-unduly-burdened "Second Amendment right" that New York state folks get to exercise.

Oh, and don't EVER believe the anti-gun-owner crowd's claims that they only want "reasonable restrictions." New York's BS gun laws are in no way "reasonable." Even if you make it through the police home invasion and "outing" through interrogation of your references, a judge can turn around and tell you to pound sand:

from a High Road member suffering in NY State:

As I understand it, it's more specifically the new judge which in a very short frame of time has made not only permits, but also purchases far more difficult for all local law abiding citizens.

Firstly, she has made it a requirement as part of the process of acquiring a pistol permit, that all applicants must be personally interviewed by appointment with the issuing judge. This of course makes the already long and expensive process, that much longer and more inconvenient. Not only that, New York being a "may issue" state, that leaves the judge, and a very anti-gun judge at that, a huge potential for discrimination. It seems highly likely that she may stop issuing new permits altogether to those not requiring them for professional use.

Secondly, and more applicable to me personally as a current permit holder, is that this judge has also already changed our county specific purchase process with no intention other than to make it more annoying. We Ulster County permit holders, until about 2 weeks ago, were able to get our pick-up slip ( as mentioned in the first paragraph ) right then and there at the licensing office upon bringing them a sales receipt from an FFL. This Judge though, has seen fit to make each individual handgun purchase require an issuing Judge's signature.

The anti-gun-owner crowd reminds me of the alien POW in Independence Day. You remember that one, right? When asked what they want us to do, the alien just says "DIE."

Look no further than what the horse's mouth says about this "reasonable" system in New York state (from the first link):

"In general, New York has been very willing to take an honest look at how to combat gun violence and to not worry about the ideological attack that some lobbying groups will level," said (Brady) center spokesman Zach Ragbourn.

That's right. If you think these BS New York handgun laws are, well, BS, you my friend are simply engaging in "an ideological attack." Never mind that New Jersey's laws are just as stupid, and New Jersey has the same homicide rate as Florida, a state with actual common-sense gun laws and a higher urbanized population.

You know what? I think a person should provide personal references before (1) voting, (2) getting reproductive health services, or (3) asserting some sort of right not to answer police questions. After all, it is all about balancing the "rights" of the majority against the rights of the individual.