County has new requirements for pistol permit apps, handgun safety instructors

GOSHEN — A new single syllabus, that meets the Orange County three-hour Handgun Safety Course training requirement for all pistol permit applicants, has been approved and will be implemented in Orange County.

This comes after months of review and consultation with the Orange County clerk and the Orange County Federationof Sportsmen Clubs.

In addition to the Sheriff’s Office that currently conducts the training, 50 instructors will be selected countywide to be trained and certified by the sheriff’s office to conduct the course.

Current firearms instructors that meet specific criteria may apply to the Orange County Sheriff's Office for the certification course. The deadline for instructor applications to become certified and teach the safety course must be received by Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.

This change resulted from a review of the current process that revealed issues regarding training regimens that were being utilized. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and its partners realized that pistol permit applicants were not receiving the same training across the board. This new policy ensures that all pistol permit applicants will be given the same training and that the rates charged by the trainers will be published. The policy does not establish set rates.

The sheriff’s office will hold familiarization training for the instructors selected and issue appropriate identification documents to allow pistol permit applicants to choose from the certified instructors. Effective Jan. 1, 2015, only certificates from these certified instructors will be accepted by the sheriff’s office as part of a pistol permit applicant’s background investigation.

The application, along with requirements, can be found on the Orange County website at www.orangecountygov.com, clicking on Sheriff’s link. Applications for instructors are also available at the sheriff’s office or through any of the 34 member clubs of the Orange County Federation of Sportsmen Clubs.

Firearms instructors with questions on the new requirements may call Undersheriff Kenneth T. Jones at 845-291-7693.