An explanation of the process for obtaining a pistol license and an overview of basic tenets of New York's "gun control" laws are provided along with hints on how to read statutes and understand their meaning. Criminal and administrative statutes relating to firearms and licenses are presented. The procedures available to challenge an unfavorable decision on a license application are explained. Also, there is information for an applicant seeking to avoid such a procedure by having his license application initially approved. The legal rules on the use of deadly force are outlined, and the 50 commonly asked questions concerning the weapons laws and licensing procedures are addressed. These include questions on the transportation of firearms, dealers transactions, license renewal, applications for non-residents, and revocation of pistol licenses. Appendix