<P> New York Civil Rights Law art . II, § 4 provides that "(a) well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms cannot be infringed ." </P> <P> New York state law does not require a license to own or possess long guns, but does require a permit to legally possess or own a pistol . However, all firearms must comply with the NY SAFE Act, which bans guns considered "assault weapons" from ownership by private citizens, unless they were owned prior to the ban . </P> <P> The City of New York has its own set of laws, and requires permits to own any long gun or pistol . </P> <P> The U.S. Supreme Court case DC v. Heller 554 U.S. 570 (2008) ruled that "the right to bear arms" is an individual right and arms in common use are protected under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, and has further ruled that this right applies to residents in individual states in McDonald v. Chicago 561 U.S. 742 (2010). </P>

Can you own guns in new york city