Buying your First Firearm

Buying your first firearm in New York State requires meeting specific age limits, completing required safety training, and securing the proper licenses before making a purchase. The process depends heavily on the type of firearm you wish to buy and whether you live in NYC or upstate.

1. Age Requirements: You must be at least 21 years old to legally purchase or own a handgun or a semi-automatic rifle in New York State. You must also be 18 to purchase a standard rifle or shotgun from a licensed dealer.
2. Know the Permit and Licenses Requirements:  

• Handguns (Pistols/Revolvers): You are legally required to have a New York State Pistol Permit (often a Concealed Carry Permit) before you can purchase, possess, or even physically handle a handgun. Active Law Enforcement are exempt.
•  Semi-Automatic Rifles: You must obtain a Semi-Automatic Rifle License to legally purchase one. 
•  Manually Operated Rifles/Shotguns: No special purchase permit or state license is required to own a traditional bolt-action, pump-action, or lever-action rifle or shotgun.

If you reside in within the 5 Boroughs you will need to obtain a rifle/shotgun permit. 

       3.  Step-by-Step Purchasing Process:  

For Handguns and Semi-Automatic Rifles: 

• Apply for a Permit: Obtain and submit an application for a pistol permit or semi-automatic rifle license through your local county licensing office.
• Complete Safety Training: You will need to complete a state-approved 18-hour firearm safety course (plus 2 hours of live-fire training) taught by a certified instructor. 
• Background Check: The licensing process involves extensive background checks, fingerprinting, and a review of your character references. 
• Purchase and Registration: Once your license is issued, you can purchase the firearm from a Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealer. You will need to amend your permit to include the specific serial number of the handgun, and you must register it with the state police within 30 days.
• For Traditional Rifles and Shotguns: Go to a licensed FFL dealer in person.
  Fill out the federal BATFE Form 4473.The dealer will process your transaction through the NICS Background Check system. Once approved and the mandatory waiting period passes, you can take the firearm home. 

       4.  NY SAFE Act Compliance: Every firearm you purchase must be NY SAFE Act compliant. This law strictly bans specific firearms classified as "assault weapons" and limits magazine capacities to no more than 10 rounds.  

 If you are a New York State resident outside of New York City, you can purchase a rifle or shotgun without a permit. You'll simply need to complete ATF Form 4473 and pass the required federal background check.

If you want to purchase a handgun, or any firearm while living in New York City, you must first apply for the appropriate New York license, pay the required fees, and receive approval before taking possession. New York law also restricts handling handguns without the required license.

Depending on your county and the type of license issued, your license may include restrictions on where and how you may possess or carry a handgun.

Orange County:   https://www.orangecountygov.com/1012/Pistol-Permit-Application-Process

Sullivan County: https://www.sullivanny.gov/Departments/Clerk/ServicesProvided/InformationGuidePistolPermits

Ulster County: https://clerk.ulstercountyny.gov/countyclerk/services/pistolpermits/forms

Dutchess County: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/Sheriff/Sheriffs-Office-Pistol-Permit.htm

Westchester County:  https://publicsafety.westchestergov.com/about-us/pistol-license-unit

New York City:  https://licensing.nypdonline.org/new-app-instruction/

Nassau County:  https://www.pdcn.org/251/Pistol-Licenses

Suffolk County:  https://suffolkpd.org/Portals/59/scpd_pdfs/formsandreports/PDCS-4016.pdf

Rockland County:  http://rocklandgov.com/files/5215/7808/4262/Instructions.pdf

1. Be honest. Under New York Penal Law § 400(1), titled "Eligibility," your application must be investigated and every statement you make in it must be found to be true in order to be eligible for a handgun license. The application will ask about arrests. New York does not have true expungements. Do not assume that because a case was sealed or dismissed you can state that you were never arrested. Trying to hide an arrest is one of the easiest and most common reasons applications are denied. The same applies to everything else — summonses, lawsuits, bankruptcies, and so on. If you are asked about it, answer truthfully. Every statement on your application must be honest. 
2. You must not be a convicted felon or have been convicted of a "serious offense." If you have a misdemeanor conviction in New York, it is important to speak with an attorney about whether that misdemeanor is classified as a "serious offense" under the law. If you have been convicted of a felony, you may not apply for a license or possess a pistol, rifle, or shotgun until your firearms rights have been legally restored. If either situation applies to you, consult with an attorney before you apply.
3. You must be of "good moral character." This is the catch-all provision that is most often used to deny licenses. Applicants have been denied under this standard for being the victim of a crime, for unpaid tickets, for driving offenses, and for any other reason the licensing authority can find. If there is anything in your background that could be used to claim you lack the moral character required for a gun license, speak to an attorney before you apply.
4. Read and follow the directions carefully. Each county has its own procedure, and those procedures change frequently. Be sure to read the current instructions closely before you apply.