Colonie Pistol Permit Timeline - Will Update Throughout Experience

I live in the town of Colonie, I will document my progress throughout the process, hope it helps someone out there.

Helpful Links:
1. How to Apply for a Pistol Permit, Amendment, or Gunsmith/Dealer License in Albany County
2. http://www.albanycounty.com/Librarie...rmit.sflb.ashx

04MAY2016 - Attended Basic Pistol Safety Course at the Watervliet Fish and Game Protective Association

*9 Months of Procrastination*

25JAN2017 - Applied for Non Driver ID from the NY State DMV, I have an out of state drivers license as I am a College Student

26JAN2017 - Contacted David Messmer to schedule appointment. It went to voicemail as he only works Monday through Friday 0800-1600

27JAN2017 - Contacted David Messmer and scheduled my appointment for April 5th, from call to appointment I will be waiting 2 months, see you then.

05APR2017 - Met with Officer Messmer for the initial meeting. He took copies of my documents, gave me 2 NYS Pistol Applications, asked for me to add him on Facebook, asked for contact info for my places of work, and from my significant other. He was very thorough and took a lot of notes on me during this interview. There seemed to be an issue with my place of residence - where I get my mail is different than where I actually live. With proof of residence at my apartment I think I will be okay - despite my NY Non Driver ID saying a family member's house. I am now working on the 4 references, the finger prints, and notarizing my main form. Officer Messmer told me the process would take 12 months.

FYI: Digital fingerprinting is done with a separate agency and costs $99

07APR2017 - Got my fingerprints done with MorphoTrust USA. It was quick and only took around 20-30 minutes. They took my fingerprints, confirmed all of my PII, and took a picture of me. They gave me two receipts - 1 for me to keep - and 1 to give to the Colonie PD. I also went to my local bank and got both of the 2 NYS Pistol Permit Applications notarized.

11APR2017 - Dropped of all the documentation above + proof of residency at my apartment with a utility bill. The Officer was up to date on which personal references have been received so far so it seems like he is definitely on top of his game.

28APR2017 - All references are in, all paperwork is in. Time to wait on what happens next. I bought a pistol and paid for it in full, it will be put on my application so that I do not have to wait for the amendment process when I get my permit.

freddy said:

4MAY2016 - Drove to store. Bought pistol. Went shooting at the range.

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I lived in Wyoming, I know how it goes in other states.

Retired MSG said:

Why in God's name would you have to friend a police officer on FB to get a pistol permit? That seems like an invasion of privacy

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That's how Colonie is running the show now. I don't agree with it.

Retired MSG said:

Would it have produced a denial if you refused?

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Don't know the official answer to that, my opinion to your question would be a yes though.

freddy said:

Facebook requirement is to see what kind of company you keep?

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Yes exactly. It's also to see what kind of things you have been posting on your wall. It's also a great way for the Colonie investigator to keep tabs on you for up to 1 year to see if you are liking/submitting inappropriate material. For me I don't really care, I am Military and have 0 expectation of privacy due to the OPM security clearance process. That being said, our founding fathers would not have been searching through the personal correspondence of Citizens to allow pistol ownership during the 18th century, why should we allow Facebook investigating in modern times?

Big Mike said:

Hey, friends. Colonie resident. Took safety course Jan 2016. Yadda yadda yadda, picked up permit last week. (restricted by Lynch- hunting and target). Approx 15 months. Time to shop.

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Would you mind giving us a little detail on how long each step took? Like a timeline.

Big Mike said:

Sorry for the delay, here’s our approximate timeline for Town of Colonie:


Week of 1/3/16 – we took permit class

Week of 1/10/16 – called separately for appointments.BTW, officer stated that we should have both come in at the same time, though that option was not offered when we scheduled. So take note if you are applying with spouse. Originally scheduled mid-June, but asked to be moved up if any time slots became vacant. Future applicants, make sure you do that, because:

Week of 3/13/16 – met with the permitting officer; separately, prints done (~$100)

Week of 3/27/16 – dropped off completed paperwork to permitting officer

Week of 4/18/16 – Wife met with the permitting officer; separately, prints done (~$100) –

Week of 5/1/16 – wife drops off paperwork

Week of 7/10/16 – permitting officer interviews at least 3 neighbors (that I am aware of)

Week of 7/17/16 – calls work supervisors and spouse

Week of 8/7/16 – CPD signs off and sends application Albany County

Week of 3/26/17 – receive letter from Albany County to report for hearing in front of judge

Week of 4/2/17 – hearing with judge (he calls us up individually)

Week of 4/16/17 – receive letter from Albany County to pick up permits


Both of our applications requested unrestricted permits. Both permits issued with restrictions (hunting & target).


Note: in response to my question to judge about removal of restrictions in the future based on training, education, and time of possession, judge stated “no, you still need to show cause, regardless of those other factors”

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Thanks for posting, much appreciated. It's sad to see that Albany County was the biggest bottle neck in the process. Colonie does all the leg work with the investigation, and Albany County sits on it...when all they have to do is paperwork.

26JULY2017 - The Colonie investigator contacted me asking if all of my information was still correct. He called my boss of my current job, my last job, job before that, my girlfriend, and my Aunt so far. He said his investigation will take about a week due to field interviews, I imagine this means he will want to talk to my direct neighbors. If there are no problems the Albany County Clerk should be getting my application in two weeks.

21AUG2017 - I called the Colonie investigator and he told me that the only step for the Colonie PD left was for the Chief of Police to sign off on the application. I imagine by the end of the week it will head to Albany County.

General Note: I have been keeping up with other timelines and it seems that the Colonie police investigation is relatively consistent. What causes some Albany county residents to have quicker processing times than others is because of the judges. There are some "traveling judges" that get assigned to pistol permits and they do not get back to Albany county very often to process permits, this may be the reason why some get their permits relatively fast...and others seem to take forever.

25AUG2017 - The application is done with Colonie...now onto the Albany County Clerk's office. I am praying for a quick judge. If I have a good judge I should be seeing a letter near the middle/end of September - with an appointment to see the Judge in Late September.

Darth said:

"Hecalled my boss of my current job, my last job, job before that, my girlfriend, and my Aunt so far. "

AYFKM!?

Sorry, but that is outrageous. Like, comically absurd.

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It is what it is

Darth said:

"Hecalled my boss of my current job, my last job, job before that, my girlfriend, and my Aunt so far. "

AYFKM!?

Sorry, but that is outrageous. Like, comically absurd.

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He did ask my Girl Friend if I physically abused her, and my Aunt/Bosses if I was a drug user...which I found comical. You would think a guy with a security clearance from the Government would be given the benefit of the doubt...but I guess not!