New York gun laws can be quite confusing to many people since there are different laws in different parts of the state. For example, the gun laws in New York City are completely different than in New York State.

Thus, it makes the process much more complex and harder to understand for many people. Therefore, working with a professional about the New York gun laws will be in your favor. However, we are going to provide as detailed information as much as possible in this guide.

Please note that we refer to New York state in this guide. These laws are widely available in all cities in the state. However, they may vary and be completely different from one city to another.

What Are New York Gun Laws?

New York gun laws are a quite complex topic, and professionals study these laws for many years. It is not possible to teach them to someone within ten minutes of reading time at most. However, you can still have an overall idea about the outlines.

For example, according to the laws, possessing a loaded gun will be charged with a felony. Of course, it is also illegal to fire a gun at people in public areas. You are not allowed to fire a gun within 500 feet of a business, school, church, or home as well. The only exception here is self-defense.

Rifles and Shotguns

According to the New York gun laws, a person needs a permit to buy shotguns and rifles in the state. In addition to this, you can also buy them from the neighboring cities and bring them with you to New York as well. Of course, the buyer also needs to be eligible to possess these weapons.

As we noted before, carrying any loaded gun is illegal in New York and these people will be charged with a felony. In addition to this, the same laws prevent people with certified mentally incompetent or felony convictions to buy and carry guns. Children younger than 16 years old are not allowed to use any firearms as well.

Handguns

If you are planning to get a handgun, then you need to have a permit for both possession and purchase of these guns. New York gun laws require the applicants to be at least 21 years old and be a resident of the state.

In case the applicant is honorably discharged from the military, then he or she does not need to be 21 years old to get these permits as well. Applicants must provide a reason for why they want to get a permit as well.

Some commonly preferred reasons include hunting purposes, target shooting, and self-defense. Just like rifles and shotguns, the applicant should not be charged with any felony before.

Who Can Buy a Gun in New York?

New York gun laws allow any New York resident, who is older than 21 years old to buy a gun. Besides the residents, people with Alien Registration Card can also buy a gun in the state as well. The only exception in age is being honorably discharged from the military.

In this case, the age of the applicant or buyer does not matter at all. On the other hand, if a person has been living in the United States for less than seven years, then he or she must submit a good conduct certificate. He or she has to get this certificate from the country of origin.

What Process Do You Need to Follow to Buy a Gun in New York?

You need to apply for a permit or license, depending on what kind of gun you would like to buy. If you prefer handguns, then you need to apply for a handgun license. On the other hand, if you prefer a shotgun or rifle, then you need to apply for a permit.

Keep in mind that, according to New York gun laws these two documents are completely different documents and they do not work for one another. Moreover, your fingerprints will be taken separately for each document.

After getting your license or permit, you can also buy guns from neighboring states and bring them to the state.

What Kind of Permits Are There to Have a Gun in New York?

According to the New York gun laws, there are five permit types to have a gun. The premise license lets you use the gun at predetermined addresses. The carry business license lets you carry and use your weapon for business purposes.

On the other hand, the limited carry business license will let you use the gun only at your business address. The special carry license will let you carry your gun no matter where you go. Additionally, the carry guard license is designed for security guards and similar jobs.

You can always consult a professional by searching for a New York gun law attorney near me on any search engine and reaching out.