Four New York State counties have agreed to accept and process carry permit applications under terms of a settlement in a case challenging what amounted to a de facto ban on non-resident carry permits, according to a recent statement from Firearms Policy Coalition.
“The good outcome here should be the end of this issue, but in a state like New York, there may be some licensing authorities and judges in the process who decide to continue resisting the Constitution and binding Supreme Court precedent,” said FPC President Brandon Combs, in an email. “So while we hope they all get the message and start issuing carry licenses without delay, we won’t hesitate to drag them into court and force them to if that’s what it takes to protect peaceable gun owners and restore liberty.”
FPC encourages individuals to apply for a permit, and notes that the NY State FAQ site itself now states that, “New York law does not require residency or in-state employment to apply for a firearm license.” However, given that the settlement is only with four county defendants, FPC has set up a hotline to report counties that still won’t cooperate or adhere to the law.
Shaffer v. Quattrone was originally filed against the New York State Police Superintendent and officials from four counties (Chautauqua, Steuben, Tioga, Orange) in November of 2024. Claims against the Superintendent were dismissed without prejudice via settlement on September 17, 2025. FPC then amended its complaint in September of 2025, and the case continued against the county defendants until resolved in early February of 2026, via a stipulation in which FPC voluntarily dismissed its complaint against the four counties.
The stipulation was filed with the United States District Court for the Western District of New York and notes that, “The Parties further STIPULATE AND AGREE that the United States District Court for the Western District of New York shall retain exclusive and continuing jurisdiction over any claims arising out of the Parties’ Settlement Agreement, and any action related to the Settlement Agreement shall be brought before the Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo.”
Details of the settlement itself have not been made public.
