The summary of the section of the budget which deals with pistol license fees and administration is as follows:

======================== BEGIN QUOTED TEXT ========================

>This bill imposes a State fee on pistol permits.

>Section 400.00 of the Penal Law is amended to impose State licensing

>fees on pistol permits. The fee schedule is as follows: a $100 fee is

>imposed on new and renewal pistol or revolver licenses; a $25 fee for

>each permit amendment; a $100 fee on gunsmith and dealer licenses; a

>$25 fee on duplicate licenses; and a $25 fee on license transfers.

>Additionally, caps on local fees are removed and such fees will be

>determined by the appropriate county legislature or the New York City

>Council.

>This bill also establishes a five-year expiration for gun licenses

>issued outside of New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester

>counties, where permit expiration dates already exist. All current

>holders of lifetime licenses will need to have their licenses

>certified prior to February 1, 2005. These certifications will expire

>on a five- year prorated basis in accordance with a schedule

>determined by the Superintendent of State Police.

>This bill further amends the Penal Law to mandate that for the

>recertification of a gun license a National Instant Background Check

>System (NICS) search shall be conducted instead of requiring the

>resubmission of the applicant`s fingerprints.

>Currently, local fees are authorized in statute for gun licenses. In

>New York City and Nassau County, local legislative bodies can

>establish a fee for a pistol license at any amount, whereas in

>counties outside of New York City and Nassau the fee must be

>between $3 and $10. Additional local fees for gun dealers, license

>amendments, duplicate licenses, and license transfers are defined.

>There are no current State fees.

>The expiration periods are also set in statute. In New York City,

>licenses are valid for three years. In Nassau, Suffolk, and

>Westchester counties, licenses are valid for five years. In all other

>counties, gun licenses do not expire.

>With the information acquired through the new licensing process, the

>State Police will be able to maintain an updated database on all

>licensed handguns in the State. Better tracking of handgun ownership

>will aid law enforcement efforts and consequently enhance public

>safety.

========================= END QUOTED TEXT =========================

These proposed changes are outrageous and discriminatory. This proposal is nothing more than naked extortion. What proves beyond any doubt that Pataki's intention is to persecute pistol owners and drive fees to prohibitive levels can be found in the portion of the text which authorizes local counties to charge

_ANY FEES THAT THEY WISH ON TOP OF THE STATE FEES_, which are high in and of themselves. This guarantees that fees will spiral out of control. In Westchester, W.C.F.O.A. was the only reason that County Exectutive Andy Spano failed in his attempt to get State permission to have pistol license fees raised to $200.00. Had he been able to do it locally, as Pataki now proposes, it would have been much more difficult to stop.

Pataki has been on an anti-gun roll for years, and has missed no opportunity to persecute and punish lawful firearm owners. This latest attempt confirms that Pataki is intent on using ECONOMIC SEGREGATION, by raising firearm ownership fees, to remove, de facto, the Constitutionally guaranteed, individual right to firearm ownership from entire classes of citizens. Those stripped of their rights would include: senior citizens on fixed incomes, low-income families and economically deprived individuals and groups.

By knowingly seeking to deprive citizens of their right to firearm ownership, Pataki also violates their civil rights. Article 4 of the New York State Civil Rights Law is as follows:

" A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms cannot be infringed."

Pataki's anti-gun actions violate Article 4 by infringing on the New York State civil right to firearm ownership.

***MAKE NO MISTAKE, LONG ARMS WILL BE THE NEXT ITEM ADDED TO THE RENEWABLE LICENSE***. If you doubt it, remember that in 1997-98, when Westchester gun owners were fighting the loss of their lifetime pistol licenses, a long arm registration proposal _WAS PART OF THE BILL_! Only strong opposition had the long gun provision removed.

If Pataki is successful in having a statewide renewable licenses system put in place, the call for long arm registration will resurface. Long gun owners had better take heed.

WHAT YOU MUST DO: write a letter, fax a letter and call on the phone to your State Assembly and State Senate representatives. Ask them to oppose Assembly bill A09556 and Senate bill S06056 for the reasons listed above. Remind them that politicians who support infringements of Constitutionally guaranteed rights, and of Civil Rights can expect to pay at the polls during the next election.

Below is a complete list of Westchester County State Assembly and Senate members with phone, fax and e-mail listings. Remember, however, that most e-mail complaints are ignored, so it is of utmost importance that citizens use other means. A letter is the most effective, but doing a letter, and a fax and a phone call is the best way to get your point across.

If you are not sure what State Assembly or State Senate district you are in, go to the following urls and follow the prompts to enter your zip code. You will then be advised of your Assembly or Senate district.

http://www.senate.state.ny.us/

http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/

If you do not have access to the internet, you can call the Westchester County Board of Elections at 914-995-5700. Give your full address and ask for your State Assembly and State Senate district numbers.

Contact list for NY Assembly & Senate,

Assembly: NYS Assembly Main Switchboard 518-455-4100

87th District - James Pretlow, 650 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12248- Ph (518)455-5291, FAX 518)455-5447

6 Gramatan Ave, Suite 407, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550-Ph(914)667-0127, FAX (914)667-0209

E-MAIL: PRETLOJ@assembly.state.ny.us

88th District - Amy Paulin, 327 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12248 - Ph(518)455-5585, FAX(518)455-5409

700 White Plains Rd., Scarsdale, NY 10583 - Ph(914)723-1115, FAX(914)723-2665

E-MAIL: PAULINA@assembly.state.ny.us

89th District - Adam T. Bradley, 553 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12248 - Ph(518)455-5397, FAX(518)455-5041

90th District - Sandra Galef, 540 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12248 - Ph(518)455-5348, FAX(518)455-5728

2 Church St., Ossining, NY 10562 - Ph(914)941-1111, FAX(914)941-9132

E-MAIL: GALEFS@assembly.state.ny.us

91st District - Ronald Tocci, 841 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12248 - Ph(518)455-4897, FAX (518)455-4861

77 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804 - Ph(914)235-7900, FAX(914)654-9785

E-MAIL: TOCCIR@assembly.state.ny.us

92nd District - Richard Brodsky, 625 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12248 - Ph(518)455-5753, FAX(518)455-5920

5 W. Main St., Rm205, Elmsford, NY 10523 - Ph(914)345-0432, FAX(914)345-0436

E-MAIL: BRODSKR@assembly.state.ny.us

93rd District - Michael Spano, 458 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12248 - Ph(518)455-3662, FAX(518)455-5499

35 E Grassy Sprain Rd., Yonkers, NY 10710 - Ph(914)779-8805, FAX(914)779-8859

E-MAIL: SPANOM@assembly.state.ny.us

 

State Senate: NYS Senate Main Switchboard 518-455-2800

34th District - Guy Velella, 612 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 - Ph(518)455-3264, FAX(518)426-6984

2019 Williamsbridge Rd., Bronx, NY 10461 - Ph(718)792-7180, FAX(718)792-3924

E-MAIL: VELELLA@senate.state.ny.us

35th District - Nicholas Spano, 509 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 - Ph(518)455-2231, FAX(518)426-6906

1 Executive Blvd., Yonkers, NY 10701 - Ph(914)969-5194, FAX(914)969-4031

E-MAIL: SPANO@senate.state.ny.us

36th District - Ruth Hassell-Thompson 613 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 - Ph(518)455-2061, FAX(518)426-6998

767 E. Gun Hill Rd, Bronx, NY 10467 - Ph(718)457-8854, FAX(718)515-2718

E-MAIL: HASSELLT@senate.state.ny.us

37th District - Suzi Oppenheimer, 515 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 - Ph (518)455-2031, FAX(518)426-6860

222 Grace Church St., Port Chester, NY 10573 - Ph(914)934-5250, FAX(914)934-5256

E-MAIL: OPPENHEI@senate.state.ny.us

40th District - Vincent Leibell III, 802 Leg. Off. Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 - Ph(518)455-3111, FAX(518)426-6977

1441 Route 22,Suite 205, Brewster, NY 10509 - Ph(914)279-3773, FAX(914)279-7156

E-MAIL: LEIBELL@senate.state.ny.us