Need To Protect Yourself In NYC? Pay Up And Wait

If you had heard anything about the debate surrounding voter ID, then you no doubt hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth from Democrats and liberals proclaiming requiring ID to vote was akin to Jim Crow era voter suppression. So what are some of the reasons they oppose voter ID?

1. It can be costly because despite state ID being free, the requirements like a birth certificate which can cost $25 or more is too much for some people.

2. The only time people can get the ID is during the work week and the working poor cannot afford to miss work.

There are other reasons but they all revolve around two things which are cost and convenience. President Obama even made reference to the notion that it was wrong to have to wait a few hours to vote.

What I want to do here is compare the the “burden” obtaining ID to vote with the undue burden placed on people who live in New York City and want to get a handgun for protection. Now remember, under the Heller decision, people have a constitutional right to own a gun. It is a right that enjoys similar protection as the right to vote. However, to exercise that right in NYC, it is a long, multi-step process. First, you have to get a permit. Here is what you need:

1. Money order needs to be written for $340 for the application fee.
2. Money order to be fingerprinted (Yes, you must be fingerprinted) for either $94.25 for electronic or $105.25 for ink.
3. Birth certificate
4. Proof of residence – Property tax bill, income tax, utility bill, etc
5. Any arrest information – Even if you’ve had a record expunged, you have to reveal it. Basically, anything more than parking ticket has to be divulged.

Your application must be notarized.

You have to provide the following letters which also must be notarized:

1. Affidavit of Familiarity with Rules and Law – Basically you have to state you understand the complex rules, regulations and state articles.
2. Affidavit of Cohabitant – If anybody over the age of 18 lives with you, they must fill this out. If you live alone, you must have an affidavit which says so.
3. Safe Guardian Affidavit – Designates who is in charge of your firearms should you become disabled or you die.

Now you can submit your application! But you will have to take off work because you must bring all of this with you during the week to 1 Police Plaza to get it all ready. So the application gets submitted and you wait.

And wait.

And wait.

You will be waiting about 1-3 months. And not for approval.

No. What you will get in three months is a letter from a police officer who is assigned to interview you. That’s right. You must be interviewed by a police officer first before you will get approval for your permit.

You also must bring with you to the interview, letters from three references. These letters must come from people you have known at least 2 years. Some people have had to come up with letters from people they have known for 5 years.

So then you have to miss work to have your interview as they are not done on the weekends.

Now you wait for your approval letter.

And wait.

And wait.

It will take another 1-3 months before you get your approval letter. Great, that person can get a gun, right?

Wrong.

What you need to do now is go to 1 Police Plaza (Only Monday to Thursday between 9 and 12 noon), get your photo taken, and be given your license and purchase authorization.

You now have 30 days from the time you get that letter, to purchase a firearm.

Done, right?

Wrong. Once you make your purchase, you have 72 hours (not three business days or calendar days)…..72 total hours to take your gun back to 1 Police Plaza (if you kept count this is the third trip there) to have it inspected. This 72 hour window includes weekends and holidays. However, you can only have your gun inspected M-F between 12:00 noon and 2:00pm. So if you buy your gun on the Friday before Memorial Day or Labor Day, you’re screwed.

Is that it?

Yes. Finally.

The entire process can actually take as long as eight months.

It is an absurd process. A woman can’t say to her abuser, “Wait 3-8 months before you do anything.” The person that lives in a neighborhood where break ins are common has to wait it out. If there was ever a process designed to keep people from exercising their constitutional rights under the second amendment, the process in NYC does just that.