No bobster, absolutely the opposite in NY. You have to submit your hangun safety course certification with your application. You are fingerprinted, need three references, approval by the local police, the county sheriff and the Judge. You cannot carry the firearm in public unless you have a conceal carry permit like me. That is even harder to get then one for target and hunting ... They do a mental health check and FBI check. If that all comes back clean, then it is up to the judge to decide. Each handgun is registered and the legal weapon is placed on your permit. If you are stopped, the police take your weapon and match the weapon with what is on your permit. If you have one that is not on that permit you will be arrested for an illegal firearm. Very tough laws in NY .. yet our violence from these damn things keeps going up