Pistol Permit applications up almost 30% in Erie County

In his studio in Eden, James Emmick owner of Firearms Training of Western New York teaches online pistol permit, active shooter and conceal and carry classes.

ALL NEW FOR YOUTHIS MORNING --DURING THISPANDEMIC,A LOT OF PEOPLEHAVE TAKEN UP NEWHOBBIES ANDINTERESTS -AND A NUMBER OFPEOPLE HAVEBECOME FIRST-TIMEGUN OWNERS.IN FACT ACCORDINGTO THE N-R-A --MORE THAN TWOMILLION AMERICANSBOUGHT THEIR FIRSTGUN IN THE FIRSTHALF OF 20-20.RETAILERS ESTIMATEABOUT 40-PERCENTOF THEIR SALES INTHAT TIME,WERE TO FIRST-TIMEGUN BUYERS.SO WHAT'S DRIVINGTHIS TREND?OUR REBECCATHORNBURG SPOKETO A LOCAL FIREARMSTRAINER -- TO FINDOUT.SOT"HELLO MY NAME ISJAMES EMMICK CLASSIS SCHEDULED FORTHREE HOURS ITTAKES A LITTLE LESSTIME THAN THAT."IN HIS STUDIO IN EDEN,JAMES EMMICKOWNER OF FIREARMSTRAINING OFWESTERN NEW YORKTEACHES ONLINEPISTOL PERMIT,ACTIVE SHOOTER ANDCONCEALED CARRYCLASSES.SOT"I WANT PEOPLE TOLEAVE THE CLASS ANDUNDERSTAND SAFEAND RESPONSIBLEGUN OWNERSHIP ISSOMETHINGEVERYONE CANACHIEVE."EMMICK SAYS THISSUMMER HAS BEENBUSY.HE SAYS HE IS SEEINGNUMBERS THAT ARESIX-TIMES HIGHERTHAN OTHERSUMMERS.ERIE COUNTYNUMBERS BACK THATUP.AFTER DROPPING OFFFOR THREE STRAIGHTYEARS PISTOLPERMIT APPLICATIONSROSE SHARPLY FROM2019 TO THIS YEAR.TO DATE THEY'RE UPALMOST 30-PERCENT.AN ELECTION YEAR, APANDEMIC, AND CIVILUNREST-- THEREASONS EMMICKSAYS THERE AREMORE PEOPLECONSIDERINGOWNING A GUN.SOT"IT'S A PERFECTSTORM OF PEOPLESAYING I WANT A GUNIN CASE I NEED IT."EMMICK FOCUSES HISCLASS ON NEW YORKSTATE LAW, SAFESTORAGE ANDTRANSPORTATION ANDHOW TO FILL OUT THEPERMIT APPLICATION.SOT"THE LAW ALLOWSYOU TO PROTECTYOURSELF WHEN NOOTHER AVENUEEXISTS.

IT'S NOTTHERE'S SOMETHINGGOING ON I'M GOINGTO BRING MY GUN TOINTERVENE, I HAD TODEFEND MYSELF.

SELFDENFENSE ISSOMEONE LOOKED ATME WRONG ORMOUTHED OFF TOYOU, IT'S I WAS INDANGER."IN ERIE COUNTY, YOUCAN MAIL IN YOURCOMPLETEDAPPLICATION ANDEXPECT THE PROCESSTO TAKE THREE TOFIVE MONTHS TOCOMPLETE.IN BUFFALO, RT 7EW