For those interested, I would like to provide some clarification and information on how the complexities of pistol permits work in the City of New York....truly a unique place in this regard.
I have a New York City "Special Carry Unrestricted Pistol License", and regarding CCW in NYC, Fatman pretty much has it correct. However, there is no such thing as a pistol license "exception", of any sort, in New York City. The NYPD requires a separate NYC Pistol Permit that gets issued by the NYPD at One Police Plaza. They require you to show your NY State Unrestricted Pistol License in order to qualify for consideration of the separate NYC License. There is also no such thing as a NYC "validation" of another pistol permit. Only a separate NYC Pistol Permit is recognized by the NYPD.......period. Your New York State Pistol Permit, or any other state permit for that matter, means absolutely nothing within New York City's 5 boroughs and is simply not recognized.
A "Special Carry Unrestricted Pistol License" is only for those who reside in New York State but not within the 5 boroughs. Carrying within the 5 boroughs requires a NYC Unrestricted Pistol License which is also accepted throughout New York State. As I reside in upstate New York but work in NYC and carry everyday in the city, I obtained a "Special Carry" permit and I always make sure I carry both my state and city permits in my wallet. One note of interest is that while my New York State license allows unlimited handguns to be listed on the back of the permit, my NYC permit only permits two handguns to be listed and carried when in the 5 boroughs. This limitation is for "Special Carry" unrestricted permits. It is increased to 8 handguns for those issued a standard NYC unrestricted permit for residents of the 5 boroughs. Also, the vast majority of NYC Pistol Licenses are issued with restrictions which pretty much only allow for premise carry in the home or shop where you work. You cannot take your gun from there unless you are going to the range, which is virtually impossible to find in the 5 boroughs. Even then your gun must be transported in a locked case within your vehicle. Ranges in NYC are essentially for use by law enforcement.
Lastly, while New York State Permits are issued "until revoked" and never charge a renewal fee once issued, the NYC Licenses are a cash cow for the city and cost $340 for a 3 year permit and another $340 for every 3 year renewal after that. This fee is waived for retired NYPD officers who apply for an NYC pistol license, without which they would not be permitted to carry in the 5 boroughs. It is true, however, that unrestricted permits in NYC are virtually impossible to obtain and "Special Carry" permits are even rarer. Only a few dozen "Special Carry" permits have ever been issued from what I was told at Police Plaza. There is no such thing as a non-resident pistol permit in New York City....so Plaxico Burress, for example, being a NJ resident would have never been issued a NYC permit, no matter who he knew. Carrying a handgun without a NYC unrestricted pistol permit is punishable with a mandatory 3.5 year jail sentence. NYC pistol licenses are also very carefully produced with a number of NYPD holograms imbedded within both sides of the license so they are virtually impossible to forge.
I hope this information clears up much of the conjecture of what actually occurs in New York City regarding the issuance of pistol permits.
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