Sheriff’s Office to Continue Processing Permits

POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Acting Sheriff Kirk Imperati would like to let the community know that although New York State’s pistol licensing laws are changing in the near future, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office will continue to process pistol permits applications just as it always has.

Beginning in September of this year New York’s law concerning the issuance of pistol permits will be changing. For example the new law will now require that applicants attend an extensive firearms safety course and provide information on their social media accounts as part of an enhanced background check. The new requirements are expected to result in significant waiting time for an applicant to be processed and receive their permit, so much so that many jurisdictions have stopped taking applications at the current time.

Sheriff Imperati would like to reassure the Dutchess County community that the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office will continue to process pistol permit applications as it always has, despite the upcoming changes. In the future applicants should plan for significantly increased wait times to receive a pistol permit due to state law changes, however the Sheriff’s Office will do everything in its power to limit that wait time for permit candidates.