# Handgun owners in NYC **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 12, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043 "2008-03-12T00:09:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SoulSearching](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SoulSearching](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulSearching)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/1 "2008-03-12T00:09:16Z")
I’m having a debate with a friend about gun laws in NYC. I own a Kel-tec p11 and leave it in my nightstand by my bed here in Georgia. I don’t have a carry permit nor do I need one since the gun never leaves the house. It’s solely for self defense. I was obviously background checked when I purchased the gun and it is registered to my name. In about a month, I plan a move to NYC and have been told I cannot have a gun at all whatsoever without a license, carry permit. I only intend to use it in the same manner, a self-defense weapon in the privacy of my home for that rare chance I’ll ever have to use it. It’ll never leaves the house. I am told this is totally illegal and I could go to jail for it. Can anyone in the know settle this? Thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/2 "2008-03-12T00:41:17Z")
In New York, a license is required to possess a handgun. In New York City, the police commissioner’s office handles applications for permits. [Here](http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/permits/handgun_licensing_information.shtml) is NYC’s page on handgun licenses which contain a wealth of information and the necessary forms. A Premises License is the easiest to obtain and should be satisfactory for your needs. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/3 "2008-03-12T00:46:34Z")
Totally illegal and you can go to jail for it. You cannot own pistols in NYC without a permit, which, as I understand it, the government issues only with extreme reluctance. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi\_m1282/is\_3\_52/ai\_59243533/pg\_1](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_3_52/ai_59243533/pg_1) According to that article, there are only 40,000 pistol permit holders out of the 7 million people in NYC. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/4 "2008-03-12T00:46:56Z")
[Here](http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/permits/handgun_licensing_application.shtml) is the link to the forms. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/5 "2008-03-12T00:50:12Z")
[QUOTE=Absolute] Totally illegal and you can go to jail for it. You cannot own pistols in NYC without a permit, which, as I understand it, the government issues only with extreme reluctance. [/QUOTE] For a premises-only license they’re not that reluctant, but you have to go through an extreme amount of rigamarole to complete the process. As for carry licenses, they are nearly impossible to come by if you’re not a licensed security worker or bodyguard. ---
**Author:** ![SoulSearching](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SoulSearching](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulSearching)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/6 "2008-03-12T00:56:43Z")
Wow and yet there’s still so much violence. Thanks for the info, I’ll seek the premises-only license. _EDIT: Didn’t realize the $400+ fees!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/7 "2008-03-12T01:23:34Z")
[QUOTE=SoulSearching] Wow and yet there’s still so much violence. Thanks for the info, I’ll seek the premises-only license. _EDIT: Didn’t realize the $400+ fees!!!_ [/QUOTE] Notice how far down NYC is on this list: [List of United States cities by crime rate - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate) ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/8 "2008-03-12T01:29:36Z")
[QUOTE=beowulff] Notice how far down NYC is on this list: [List of United States cities by crime rate - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate) [/QUOTE] Yeah, there’s actually not “so much” violence in NYC. And really, if you’re going to be shooting people anyway, making sure you have a permit for your handgun is probably not a top priority. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/9 "2008-03-12T02:09:44Z")
[QUOTE=SoulSearching] Wow and yet there’s still so much violence. [/QUOTE] As others have said, on a per-capita basis, New York has less crime than Omaha, Nebraska. ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/10 "2008-03-12T03:42:56Z")
[QUOTE=SoulSearching] Wow and yet there’s still so much violence. [/QUOTE] Laws continue to be ineffective at regulating criminal gun ownership. It has something to do with criminals not obeying laws, I think. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/11 "2008-03-12T04:34:46Z")
[QUOTE=1010011010] Laws continue to be ineffective at regulating criminal gun ownership. It has something to do with criminals not obeying laws, I think. [/QUOTE] Actually, NYC is the poster child for gun control. If you look at the figures, it’s violence per capita is very low, compared to cities such a Phoenix (where I live), which have no such laws. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/12 "2008-03-12T10:56:52Z")
[QUOTE=1010011010] Laws continue to be ineffective at regulating criminal gun ownership. It has something to do with criminals not obeying laws, I think. [/QUOTE] **Moderator observation:** Let’s keep this on topic and keep the gun control debates in Great Debates. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-owners-in-nyc/441043/13 "2008-03-12T11:06:56Z")
In addition, when you get the premesis permit, you have to (insert horror music tone here) register your pistol!