NYSP JTTF Survey
The NYSP “Joint Terrorism Taskforce” is out at dealers – again – for the second time inside of twelve months. That would be a violation of the new (2022) inspection law, and they know that. Instead, officers are telling federally-licensed dealers in firearms and pawnbrokers that “It’s just a survey, Ma’am. We’re preparing it at the request of the New York State Attorney General.”
NYSP-JTTF officers are showing up at dealers the past three weeks in unmarked cars, wearing street clothes, presenting no identification, and saying that they’re not carrying their badge. Officers are reluctant to say their name or provide a direct telephone number. They’re carrying cheap photocopies of a “checklist” that isn’t even a decent Word document, let alone produced with an official header. And these men and women are asking all manner of proprietary information about the operations and security of highly-regulated industry operations.
For all I know, it’s not even the NYSP. That’s how poorly these actors are performing. Oh, they continue to read from the identical script. They’ve memorized and rehearsed their lines. This is an encore production. I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t want to be here. If it were up to me. I’ve got for-real bad guys to catch. Unless you’re selling guns out the back door without a background check, we’re not here to arrest you. And my personal favorite? My parents had a gun shop, too, but in another state.
Smart dealers are insisting on having a witness with them during these “surveys.” Other smart dealers are taking physical notes, right in front of the officer. Smartest dealer award goes to dealer requesting presence of local law enforcement as a witness. And, of course, compliant dealers already have security cameras rolling, and they are saving those videos. Some report they are reviewing all of the above with local counsel. Here’s a few tips I wrote up for y’all last summer. It’s still a rocky situation because NYSP is playing Biden.
It’s time for an FFL survey of our own.
So, listen. It’s a wee bit earlier than I had intended, but. Let’s get started on our own NYS industry survey relative to these NYSP visits. In our case of Gazzola v. Hochul, we are about to pivot into the discovery phase of our case. We’d like to hear from FFLs about their experiences in visits from the NYSP for “inspections,” “surveys,” or otherwise.
Here’s how it’s going to work.
I’m looking for a couple dozen FFLs willing to answer a few questions about the NYSP-JTTF visit to their business premises after December 1, 2022, and who then wouldn’t mind talking to me via telephone for about 15 minutes concerning that visit. The information will form a confidential part of my attorney work product in the case of Gazzola v. Hochul.
If you or an FFL you know is interested, please send me a note through my website contact page. I’ll then send that FFL the password to the scheduling page, which includes the survey. For now, I’ve set up the calendar for appointments available week of March 18. (There are two big steps in the case between now and when I’ll be ready for the phone call portion.)
This survey is only for current FFLs or those who have closed their FFL since the new laws passed in summer 2022 with a business premises in New York. (If you are an FFL with a business premises outside New York, but with a NY dealers license or doing business in NY and have received an NYSP JTTF visit or request for inspection, please send through a contact form note with this detail.)
Please share with the FFLs in your life. Be a Keeper of the Second Amendment.
