MONTICELLO – The sales
of pistol permits have been on the rise in the region in recent months
and some county officials are adjusting their schedules and rules to accommodate
the applicants.
Sullivan County Clerk Daniel Briggs said pistol permits this year have doubled over last year to well over 300. As a result, he announced that pistol permit-related transactions will only be conducted by appointment, and at his office. To make an appointment, call 845-807-0416 or 807-0417.
He said there are several reasons for the increased interest in owning
guns, including legislation that restricts access. The recent terrorist
attacks worldwide have also drawn people to seek legal weapons.
“We have also had incidents from San Bernardino to Paris to even more locally and each time an occurrence such as that happens, people are quick to try to protest themselves,” Briggs said. “Then you have the sheriffs on top of that suggesting that people try and take precautionary measures in defending themselves, you put all those factors together and you have a situation where people take measures to try and protect themselves.”
More than half of the applicants lately have been women. Coupled with
the new gun permit applications, Briggs said his office receives thousands
of applications to amend existing licenses.
In Columbia County, Sheriff David Bartlett said because of the increase of pistol permit applications and a large influx of students taking the NRA course in recent months, his office will process pistol permits on three Saturdays in January – the 16th, 23rd and 30th, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Applications will be processed by appointment, which may be scheduled at 518-828-0601, ext. 1414.
Applicants are encourages to come in on Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on a first come, first serve basis, to get their pistol permit applications processed.
