A permit in NYC is less than $500. I don’t consider that expensive and a 3-6 months time frame is no big deal either.
$500 IS a big deal if you don’t have it (possibly costing more than the gun being licensed), 3-6 month wait is a long time if you need it, and seems the process requires multiple in-person interviews at deliberately inconvenient times & places.
It’s also completely unavailable to anyone who doesn’t actually reside within NYC proper.
You're joking. Right? That's sarcasm. Right?
The typical $500 permit is technically for range use only. You can keep at home but can only use it for self defense in limited circumstances.
That said, you can carry anywhere in NYC if you have special permission and training from the NYPD.
I’d imagine the number of legal civilian carriers in NYC is under 100 people. Mostly jewelry store owners who carry lots of diamonds I heard