County Pistol Permits Spiked Before Presidential Election

LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Pistol permit applications are on a decline following a spike leading up to 2016’s presidential election.

County Clerk Mary Strickland reported to the Public Services Committee Thursday that from August 1, 2016 to November 15, 2016, pistol permit applications grew by 72 percent.

“The interesting thing with this is we were going very strong up until the election,” said Strickland to Public Services. “Everybody was in here getting their application trying to make sure they were all in place to see what was going to happen in the election. After the election, it didn’t fall off hugely but it did fall off a little bit because they weren’t sure who was going to be the next president and where they were going to go with the pistol permit situation.”

The County Clerk’s Office sold 1,189 pistol permit applications in 2016, up by 36 percent from 2015. Amendments (adding/disposing of a pistol on an existing permit) were up 22 percent and transfers into or out of the county were up 44 percent.

In the first quarter of 2017, things are cooling off. Compared to the first quarter of 2016, applications are down 40 percent, amendments are down 17 percent, and transfers are comparable to 2016.

Pistol permit applications are available at the Livingston County Clerk’s Office at 6 Court Street in Geneseo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The fee is $10, only payable by cash or check.

Applicants must be 21 years or older, have lived in Livingston County for a minimum of one year, and have four references who have known the applicant for at least one year. Three references must be county residents and the fourth may be an out-of-county resident.