We may not agree with it and may consider it unconstitutional but in New York State you cannot legally own a pistol unless you have a state license to own it.
The state law is known as the “Sullivan Act” and has been in effect since 1911.
Basically it is a misdemeanor to own a concealable firearm without a license and it is a felony to carry one without a license.
And it is not easy to obtain a license to own a pistol.
New York is a “may issue” state as opposed to a “shall issue state”.
So the governing law enforcement agency does not have to issue a license if they don’t want to for any reason at all.
Which is a problem I have with NRA, GOA and other gun rights groups. They should be balls-to-the-wall challenging these laws wherever they exist, with every penny they can muster. If they are in fact doing anything, they are not publicizing it. They have to be as in-your-face about rights as anti-gun activist are in removing our rights.
What amazes me more is alleged 'conservatives' supporting these "laws" that are in direct contravention to the U.S. Constitution, because "the law is the law" bullshit.