The Second Department determined County Court properly revoked petitioner’s pistol permit based upon evidence of deplorable living conditions, deteriorating mental health, and petitioner’s inability to care for himself:
“The State has a substantial and legitimate interest and indeed, a grave responsibility, in insuring the safety of the general public from individuals who, by their conduct, have shown themselves to be lacking the essential temperament or character which should be present in one entrusted with a dangerous instrument” … . Penal Law § 400.00(1), which sets forth the eligibility requirements for obtaining a pistol license, requires, inter alia, that the applicant be of good moral character with no prior convictions of a felony or serious offense, and a person “concerning whom no good cause exists for the denial of the license” (Penal Law § 400.00[1][n]…). ” Where a licensee challenges a determination, made after a hearing, to revoke his or her pistol license,’ or to deny reinstatement of a permit previously revoked, we review only whether a rational basis exists for the licensing authority’s determination, or whether the determination is arbitrary or capricious'” … .
Here, at the hearing, testimony was elicited regarding the petitioner’s deplorable living conditions, the deteriorating state of his mental health, and his inability to properly care for himself, his environment, or his possessions. Contrary to the petitioner’s contention, this evidence, which was credited by the respondent, was sufficient to provide a rational basis for the determination revoking his pistol license. Matter of Warmouth v Zuckerman, 2016 NY Slip Op 02659, 2nd Dept 4-6-16
PISTOL PERMITS (DETERIORATING MENTAL CONDITION AND DEPLORABLE LIVING CONDITION JUSTIFED REVOCATION OF PISTOL PERMIT)/MENTAL HYGIENE LAW (PISTOL PERMITS, DETERIORATING MENTAL CONDITION AND DEPLORABLE LIVING CONDITION JUSTIFED REVOCATION OF PISTOL PERMIT)