I grew up in New York...
Up in the Adirondacks, and it is a beautiful place Sadly, New York state is politically controlled by the metro complex downstate. The NYC area has the bodies, and so the votes. They get to decide what generally happens in the rest of the state, and they get the lion's share of the tax money.
If there is a more clear example of the fallacy of democracy, a welfare tenant in a third floor cold water walk up in Queens having an equal say with the property owner in the Adirondacks, over what he can do on his property, I don't know what it might be.
Some of the western states are in nearly the same situation (although it hasn't been going on for as long) with the bulk of the population in a small geographical area, virtually dictating to the rest of the state . In Washington and Oregon the people on the west side of the mountains get the bread, and the rest of the state lives on the crumbs. The good thing (so far) is that unlike California, WA and OR govts have not been able to impose the same draconian gun laws as CA or NY, although not for lack of trying!
Under New York law, you cannot possess (and that includes holding it on a range) a handgun without a valid pistol permit. And the permit is both person and firearm specific. The handgun(s) allowed on a permit are listed by make, caliber, barrel length, and serial number! You are licensed for that gun (s) and only that gun(s). If you and a buddy (who has his own permit) are shooting together on a range, you cannot trade guns to fire a few shots, without technically breaking the law.
If you live in New York State, and have a pistol permit, I strongly urge you to get everyone in your household who is legally eligible to apply for a permit and list your handgun(s) on it. If the wife uses your pistol to defend herself while you are at work, and she does not have a permit (or have your pistol on her permit) she is breaking the law, and so are you, by letting her have access to the gun. You could lose your gun and your ability to ever have another.
My family lkearned of this in the late 60's, when Mom and Dad were in a car wreck. Both survived, but one of the things we learned from it was that, had Dad been killed, we would have had to surrender all Dad's pistols (he had 6 at the time), because Mom didn't have a permit. Surrendering to the police meant that the guns would be destroyed after a period of time. Surrendering to the sherriff's dept and the guns would be held, if someone in the family applied for a permit, until the permit was approved or denied. Mom applied soon after, abd both of us kids applied and were granted our permits (listing Mom & Dad's pistols) a few years later when we turned 18. At that time, while the law for buying a handgun said 21, the age at which a permit could be issued was up to the discretion of the issuing judge.
I don't know what the law says today (probably a hard rule for 21) but whatever it is, get everyone in your household a permit as soon as you can. Bettetr for you, better for them. Good Luck. It is a hassle, but if you can't (or don't want to) live somewhere where you can still be (relatively) free, do what you must, and get the permit.
