Pistol permit recertification deadline approaching in New York

CORTLAND, N.Y. - Cortland County Sheriff Mark Helms is asking local residents to re-certify their pistol permits before a January 31st deadline imposed by New York State five years ago.

If you registered a pistol permit before 2013, you have until the end of January to re-certify your permit with New York State Police; however, police won't confiscate your weapons if you fail to meet the deadline. In fact, permits will be accepted through the end of the year.

While it's not technically a hard deadline, Sheriff Helms is asking gun holders to avoid jeopardizing their eligibility and comply with the law.

"I know many people are angry about this law, and are skeptical of its ultimate intent, but I must impress upon you the importance of complying with the law and recertifying," Helms said in a statement, referring to the New York SAFE Act gun control legislation that passed in 2013.

Supporters of the law say it is intended to keep accurate state and local records of registered gun owners, but many have expressed their ire with the law, including New York State Senator James Seward, whose district covers Cortland County.

You can re-certify your permit online at https://firearms.troopers.ny.gov/pprecert/