Ronkonkoma Organization Files Petition Against Nassau Police Commish

A Ronkonkoma-based online organization has teamed up with one other group to file a lawsuit and petition against Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale for what they claim is a denial of 2nd Ammendment rights centered on its pistol licensing process.

According to a release from the Long Island Firearms (LIF), an online community of gun enthusiasts, Commissioner Dale's office has taken longer than legally allowed to grant or deny pistol permits to some of its members.

New York State Penal Law 400.00 (4-a) requires the Commissioner's office, which has the authority to grant pistol permits, to process applicants within a six month period. According to LIF, some Nassau members have waited over a year to hear back from the Commissioner's office.

In a letter sent to members of LIF, Commissioner Dale recognized the six month provision, but interpreted the rule as "not a firm deadline," adding that recent cuts in personnel in the pistol unit has created a back log of applications.

The letter went on to indicate that all handgun permit applications have to be closely investigated to make sure handguns are being licensed to law-abiding citizens and other safety criteria.

"I do not believe that relaxing the standards for conducting pistol license investigations in order to meet a six month administrative deadline would further the public safety interests of Nassau County," the letter stated.

LIF described the letter as "a willfull and purposeful violation of New York State law," and filed the petition seeking a Nassau County Supreme Court judge to force Dale's office to comply with the six month deadline.

The organization has teamed up with the Long Island Second Ammendment Preservation Association to finance the lawsuit. The law office of Murtha & Murtha, in Babylon, has taken the case.