From "Proper Cause" to "Good Moral Character"
On June 23, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, striking down New York's longstanding "proper cause" requirement for concealed carry licenses as a violation of the Second and Fourteenth Amendments.[1] For over a century, New York had required applicants to demonstrate a special need for self-protection beyond that of the general public. The Bruen decision held that the right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense is protected by the Constitution and that the government bears the burden of demonstrating that any restriction is consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearms regulation.
In response, New York enacted the Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA) on July 1, 2022, establishing a new licensing framework effective September 1, 2022.[2] The CCIA replaced "proper cause" with a "good moral character" standard under Penal Law Section 400.00, requiring applicants to demonstrate "the essential character, temperament, and judgment necessary to be entrusted with a weapon and to use it only in a manner that does not endanger oneself or others."[3]
Eligibility Requirements
Under PL 400.00 as amended by the CCIA, an applicant for a concealed carry license must meet all of the following criteria:[4]
- Be at least 21 years of age (exception for honorably discharged military members)
- Demonstrate good moral character with essential character, temperament, and judgment
- Have no felony or serious offense convictions
- Not be a fugitive from justice
- Not be an unlawful user of or addicted to controlled substances
- Have no involuntary commitment to a mental health facility
- Complete 16 hours of in-person classroom instruction plus 2 hours of live-fire training with a DCJS/NYSP-approved instructor
- Pass a written examination with a score of 80% or higher
- Undergo an extensive background investigation
License Types
Outside New York City, the licensing officer (typically a county court judge) issues pistol permits under PL 400.00. License types include premises licenses (possess at home or business only), carry licenses (concealed carry on person), target or hunting licenses (limited use), and gunsmith or dealer licenses.[5] Within New York City, the NYPD License Division administers a separate, more restrictive licensing system that includes Premises Residence, Premises Business, Carry Business, and Limited Carry Business licenses.[6]
Recertification and Application Process
Carry licenses must be recertified with the New York State Police every three years, while premises and other non-carry licenses recertify every five years under PL 400.00(10).[7] In New York City, carry and dealer licenses also expire and must be renewed every three years, while in Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk counties pistol and revolver licenses expire every five years. Application fees vary by county; NYC handgun license applications cost approximately $340.[8]
Litigation Status
The CCIA's core licensing provisions, including the good moral character standard and training requirements, were upheld by the Second Circuit in its December 2023 consolidated decision in Antonyuk v. James.[9] The social media disclosure requirement was struck down. After the Supreme Court decided United States v. Rahimi in June 2024, the December 2023 decision was vacated and remanded. On October 24, 2024, the Second Circuit issued a new opinion reaffirming all prior conclusions, keeping the core provisions in place while maintaining the injunctions against the social media requirement and the private property default rule.[10] The U.S. Supreme Court declined certiorari on April 7, 2025 (docket 24-795), leaving the October 24, 2024 ruling as the operative Second Circuit precedent.[11] On March 31, 2026, the social media disclosure requirement under PL 400.00(1)(o)(iv) was permanently enjoined, completing the Antonyuk litigation on that provision. New York has dropped the requirement entirely and the PPB-3 form no longer requests social media account information.
See also: How to Apply for a Concealed Carry License Under the CCIA
See also: CCIA Training Requirements: 16+2 Hours