State police give sheriff delay on gun permit system
The state police have given Fayette County Sheriff Gary Brownfield additional time to implement a state-mandated change in gun permit applications. With the accommodation for additional time, the county doesn’t have to scramble by July 1 to find the $14,301 to purchase a new gun permit system and the current forms will be valid.
With the reprieve, Brownfield has been given until Dec. 31, 2005, to use his current forms. Cpl. R.L. Reidenbaugh, supervisor of the firearms administration section of the state police, said Wednesday that because of the circumstances, Brownfield will be allowed to continue to use his current supply of licenses. She said the extension should allow the county sufficient time to budget the money to purchase a new system.
“We’re always willing to work with the counties to accommodate them. He was given an extension to utilize his existing supply and not comply for now until December 31, 2005,” Reidenbaugh said.
Reidenbaugh said the changes to the forms came about due to homeland security issues. She said counties were notified of the impending changes in February. The changes include country of origin for the bearer.
Brownfield notified the county commissioners last month that he wished to purchase a new system to go along with the application change. Although he was hoping to get a $10,000 grant to pay for a portion of the system, the grant was not definite and the county commissioners were concerned about funding the system. Not knowing a change was on the way, late last year Brownfield spent $2,000 on new permit forms.
Reidenbaugh said the state police are willing to work with any other county that is unable to make the changes, but she is unaware of any other county that has requested special accommodations besides Fayette.
Brownfield said Wednesday that in time he still wants a new gun permit system, but now there is “no rush.”
The county commissioners were set to approve a motion at today’s meeting to advertise for bids for an agreement to purchase or lease to purchase the system, in anticipation of the July 1 deadline. Fayette County Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink said Wednesday that the item to advertise for the system will still be listed on today’s agenda, but the commissioners will “address the issue and close it.”
When the new system is purchased, which will include a picture taken by a digital camera, Brownfield plans to use it to make identification cards for the county and put all the information on a computer. He earlier said the new system will eliminate the storage space needed for the current system.
Also, Brownfield plans to raise the cost of a five-year gun permit from $19 to $26, which he anticipates will generate annual income of at least $18,000.