The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has made changes to the pistol permit process to make it easier.
Starting Monday, Oct. 23, county residents will no longer have to drive to the sheriff’s headquarters in Wampsville to obtain the pistol permit application — it can be downloaded from home and completed there, anytime of the day or night. Additionally, the $3 fee for the application will no longer be charged.
Acting Sheriff John Ball said the changes were the result of a cooperative effort with the county court judge to make the permit process more efficient and more timely. “The changes in no way compromise the integrity of the vetting and investigation process behind each permit,” Ball said.
In addition to the online presence for the application and elimination of the application fee, other changes include:
•Detailed instructions for completion of the permit are also on the sheriff’s website.
•Standardizing handgun safety requirements for permit applicants, following the NRA model. Check the NRA website for dates and locations. In addition, the handgun safety course offered by Onondaga Community College’s Public Safety Training Center is also acceptable, as well as any classroom-based four-hour handgun safety course. Online courses, or the national conceal/carry courses are not accepted.
•Authorized substitutions for the handgun safety course (i.e. current or former law enforcement, current active duty military or veteran, proof of hunter safety course, or possession of a valid New York state hunting license)
•Streamlining the permit application from seven pages to four, reducing redundant and unnecessary information. Other required forms for the permit are also included online that must be completed as part of the application process.
Ball said the county’s website page for pistol permits, located at madisoncounty.ny.gov/1494/Pistol-Permits, has all the information residents need regarding pistol permits, handgun safety, or things of the sort. The permit office can be called for any questions by calling 315-366-2406 during business hours.
Ball said additional enhancements to the program are in the works and are expected to be rolled out over the course of the following several months.
