Ravenwood - 05/27/03 08:00 PM
Q: Two thugs walk into a New York City mini-mart and attempt to rob the clerk at gun point. What is the police reaction?
A: Arrest the mini-mart employees for having the nerve to defend themselves with (GASP) an unregistered gun.
ABC News reports that a 69-year old employee of the mini-mart used an unlicensed .22 caliber handgun to fend off the two bandits. One of the robbers, a 19 year old man, was killed.
The local ABC affiliate doesn't give many details, but they do interview a local Harlem resident, whose reaction probably mirrors typical liberal New York views. The store clerk should have used a registered gun. That is all fine and dandy, if New York City actually allowed people to register their guns.
Packing.org notes that New York City doesn't even recognize permits from New York State residents. That means if you live outside the city, you may have trouble getting a city permit. They also note that the process is long, difficult, and expensive, with an exorbitant application fee of $244. Plus you are only granted a license if they choose to give you one. After your application is evaluated, and your need is justified, you may be granted a permit. Maybe, if all your paperwork is in order, the moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars, you'll be granted a permit.
Category: Defending Your Life
Comments (4) top link me
I may still have a warrant for my arrest in Maine for being found in possession of a handgun without a permit. In Texas, it would be against the law to have a gun in your possession without the proper permit if you were merely driving from work to home and regularly kept it in your glove box. It would not be against the law if you were transporting the gun from your office to your home for some specific reason other than your safety on the trip home. However, it is not against the law to carry a gun in your car for safety if you are travelling, overnight, to a destination at least two counties away. I was in Maine. It took me over a week to drive there. Surely that is over two counties from anywhere in Texas. Is no one in Maine aware of the Full-Faith & Credit Act? It basically says that states are bound to recognize the validity of the laws of other states.* Maine said it would have not been a problem if I had a Texas carry permit, but since I did not have a permit, I was not in legal possession of the weapon. I sent my Maine attorney the Texas law. No one from Maine has come to get me. I still suspect, however, that if I ever visit Maine again, I might be subject to being jailed if found out.
*Many states seem to believe the Full-Faith & Credit Act does not apply to same-sex marriages which were performed in other states.
Posted by: Tiger at May 28, 2003 1:17 AMI'm no attorney, but it doesn't surprise me that they don't recognize Texas laws, even if you had a Texas permit. Does that mean that people from Vermont get a free pass in Maine? After all, Vermont requires no permit for concealed or open carry.
The best book I ever purchased was the "Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States". It was written by an attorney, that studies the firearms laws, and rates each state by their firearms "friendliness". While it isn't legal advice, it is an invaluable resource for travelers with firearms.
I keep mine in my car.
Posted by: Ravenwood at May 28, 2003 8:14 AMTiger,
I don't think that full faith and credit applies to gun permits. Texas has to have a reciprocal agreement with the state you are travelling in for the permit to be valid, and they currently only have them with eight states. Maine isn't one of them.
Full faith and credit mainly applies to legal contracts and the like -- it isn't meant to override state laws for visitors. As much as I despise gun control, Maine isn't obligated to honor Texas law.
Posted by: Owen Courrèges at May 28, 2003 9:38 PMYou forgot the other ways to get a permit in NYC: Be a famous celebrity or donate to the party in power. Or be a party bigwig.
Posted by: Kevin Baker at May 28, 2003 10:29 PM(c) Ravenwood and Associates, 1990 - 2014
