Assemblyman David DiPietro (R,C-East Aurora) reminded pistol permit holders that due to SAFE Act requirements, you must recertify all pistol permits 5 years after the date your license was issued. If your pistol permit was issued before January 15, 2013, you must recertify your permit before January 31, 2018. If your permit was issued on or prior January 15, 2013, the deadline is five years after the date the permit was issued. Permit holders are responsible for knowing their issue date and must recertify whether they receive a notification or not. Failure to do so will result in your pistol permit being revoked.

“I want to remind all pistol owners that the deadline for renewing their permits is fast approaching,” DiPietro said, “This is the first time this deadline is in effect and many permit holders haven’t been correctly notified that their permit is expiring. Even though I’ve railed against the SAFE Act from its onset, I’m dedicated to preserving our Second Amendment rights in every way possible. We must protect our right to bear arms and keeping your pistol certified is a part of that reality in New York now, regardless of how much of an abuse of power the SAFE Act is. This deadline must still be observed and I’m doing all I can to ensure that pistol owners are notified correctly and can keep their firearms certified.”

Last January, the State Police mailed approximately 350,000 letters statewide to remind pistol owners of the new recertification restrictions. As of right now, only about 175,000 people have responded.

If you are a New York state pistol permit holder and need to recertify your license or would like more information, please visit the New York State Trooper Website here. Additionally, you may contact my office at (716) 655-09051 or email me at dipietrod@nyassembly.gov.