GOA's lawsuit forces NYC to allow Non-Residents to apply for CCW Permits.

GOA Lawsuit Forces NYC To Allow Non-Residents to Apply for Carry Permits | GOA

August 9, 2024

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, the New York City Police Department adopted an emergency rule which will allow non-residents to apply for concealed carry permits. This follows a lawsuit filed by Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) in February of this year on behalf of several non-residents (including Newsmax TV Host Carl Higbie) who have been wholly unable to secure any type of carry permit in New York, leaving them defenseless.

Erich Pratt, GOA's Senior Vice President, issued the following statement:

"This is great news for the untold millions of Americans who either work or visit New York every year. It's critical that everyone can exercise their inherent right to self-defense, but until now, anti-gunners in New York denied most Americans that basic right."

"We will continue to monitor local cases to ensure that NYPD indeed grants these permits to applicants in a timely and non-onerous manner. Otherwise, we will gladly file another lawsuit directed specifically at Mayor Adams and the NYPD."

Background: Under current New York law, only New York residents, or those who primarily work in New York, may apply for and obtain permits to carry concealed weapons, and the state does not grant any form of reciprocity for individuals who hold a similar permit from another state.

As a result, those who hold out of state driver's licenses may drive in New York, but the exercising of one's constitutional right to bear arms in New York State is wholly inaccessibly to the 94% of Americans who are not New York State residents. New York is one of a very few states where nonresidents are not allowed to exercise their Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms.

Long past due for interstate carry.

This could get very interesting. NYC has a lot of their own much stricter rules and regulations about guns in general and handguns in particular over the obnoxious regulations the rest of the state endures.

Considering we have a extremely gun hostile governor she will work with the elitists in NYC to throw many monkey wrenches into the gears. I expect her to do another end run and make things harder than they are now for all gun people in the state.

Call me cynical, but in reality I don't think it will really make a difference. I'm guessing NYPD changed the policy to negate the lawsuit. Applying for a permit doesn't mean they will issue one. Ever. Maybe a few celebrities and those politically connected.

Piwo said:

Call me cynical, but in reality I don't think it will really make a difference. I'm guessing NYPD changed the policy to negate the lawsuit. Applying for a permit doesn't mean they will issue one. Ever. Maybe a few celebrities and those politically connected.

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This doesn't mean our case ended. This is simply NYC trying to do the absolute minimum to render the case moot. We aren't stopping.

But the fact that NYPD will now issue non-the residents a permit. Even through erroneous means. A backdoor has been opened for carry in NYS since NYS recognizes NYC permits for statewide carry.

Even if forced they will make it so expensive, such a long wait time, barrage you with ridiculous amounts of paperwork and make the process all but impractical to get one. NYC pretty much ignores what the actual laws and statutes are - they do what they want and get away with it. It's always been that way there.

BTW, WHY do we need a Permit at all for something that is a RIGHT as per our constitution. It is a right and not a privilege such as a driver's license.

From what I hear from folks back up there, getting a NEW permit requires 4 non family references, 16 hours of class work, and 2 hours of range time at a cost of $500+.

Folks that moved out of the state, like me, were allowed to keep their pre Bruen permits as long as they recertify with the NYSP every few years. A recert is done online in minutes.

That they allow folks who moved to keep their permits is likely a big factor in them opening up to out of staters, imo.

Expensive yes, time consuming yes, but doable if you want one.

And yes, I know of NYC residents getting carry permits. It is not only for the rich and connected anymore.

chief38 said:

BTW, WHY do we need a Permit at all for something that is a RIGHT as per our constitution. It is a right and not a privilege such as a driver's license.

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I agree, "shall not be infringed" seems so simple and easy to understand, yet here we are.

I grew up in NYS spending 18 years of that time in NYC. I can tell you unequivocally, they will purposely loose 1" thick applications, run out of them, have you make numerous trips to 1 Police Plaza downtown Manhattan, then make the entire process so distasteful, so lengthy and so expensive, FEW will take the challenge. PLUS.... last I checked, the permit has to be renewed every year - making the process all but impossible to continuously have a permit in force. Been there - done that!

AGAIN: What the SCOTUS says has mostly been ignored or manipulated by the politicians in NYS and NYC. CA, MA, IL HA and NJ aren't far behind.

Under LEOSA, as an honorably retired sworn peace officer with valid current law enforcement credentials and a valid current State of Texas Qualification Card, I have the privilege of carrying concealed in all 50 US States and all its territories.

However, out of principle, I will not travel to or within a state that restricts its citizens of their right to carry. I am glad I live in the free state of Texas. I wasn't born here, but I got here as soon as I could.

I was born, raised, and worked my whole career all over the state of California. I like to tell people that I escaped from California two weeks after I retired and moved to the United States.

ladder13 said:

From what I hear from folks back up there, getting a NEW permit requires 4 non family references, 16 hours of class work, and 2 hours of range time at a cost of $500+.

Folks that moved out of the state, like me, were allowed to keep their pre Bruen permits as long as they recertify with the NYSP every few years. A recert is done online in minutes.

That they allow folks who moved to keep their permits is likely a big factor in them opening up to out of staters, imo.

Expensive yes, time consuming yes, but doable if you want one.

And yes, I know of NYC residents getting carry permits. It is not only for the rich and connected anymore.

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Interesting, did you keep your old NYS address on it or did you give them your new out of state address?

I hope this gets leveraged into either State level Non-resident or reciprocity (i doubt it).

Also, I applaud the Defendant and their Legal Team for fighting the good fight.

Good Job, GOA. That's why I'm a Life Member! Hey Miami JBT, good to see you on here, too!

cd228 said:

Interesting, did you keep your old NYS address on it or did you give them your new out of state address?

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When I recertified with the NYSP I used my NC address.

ladder13 said:

When I recertified with the NYSP I used my NC address.

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Thanks for the info. I'm a couple years from retirement (.mil) and was thinking about moving south, but was afraid of losing my Pistol License.

cd228 said:

Thanks for the info. I'm a couple years from retirement (.mil) and was thinking about moving south, but was afraid of losing my Pistol License.

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I lived in Putnam County, the county clerk and judges are very pro 2A.

Miami_JBT said:

.... New York is one of a very few states where nonresidents are not allowed to exercise their Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms.

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Oregon, where I am, is another. Oregon recognizes no other state's CHL and has no provision for nonresident permits. (There are cases of nonresidents of Oregon who live in border states receiving Oregon permits, but it does not seem to be an easy process.)

Piwo said:

Call me cynical, but in reality I don't think it will really make a difference. I'm guessing NYPD changed the policy to negate the lawsuit. Applying for a permit doesn't mean they will issue one. Ever. Maybe a few celebrities and those politically connected.

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I am curious about this, too. For example, Hawaii has been a "shall issue" state for years, but they never, or vanishingly rarerly, issued permits to their residents who applied. (I have not been in Hawaii in several years. Hopefully, this, too, is evolving.)

I am also interested in this New York case because I have family in Colorado, which does not have reciprocity with Oregon, does not provide nonresident permits, and will not accept nonresident permits from other states with which it does have reciprocity, like Utah.

cd228 said:

Thanks for the info. I'm a couple years from retirement (.mil) and was thinking about moving south, but was afraid of losing my Pistol License.

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It all depends on what county you live in.

Rob613 said:

It all depends on what county you live in.

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That is true. So that alone should be a lawsuit, imo. Not a lawyer but does equal protection apply?