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http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2010/05/12/news/doc4bea36dcd8cce395378560.txt
Digital pistol tracking system unveiled
Method would enable distribution of photo ID cards with renewals and new permits
By Colin DeVries
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Published: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 2:15 AM EDT
CATSKILL — A new digital pistol tracking system was proposed for county-wide implementation during the Greene County Legislature’s public safety committee meeting.
The committee approved the appropriation of $24,200 for the purchase of Gun Keeper 2, a firearm permit management issuing and tracking system.
“This really brings us into the 21st Century,” said Greene County Sheriff Greg Seeley during Monday’s meeting.
Seeley said the system would enable the distribution of photo identification cards with new permit applicants and renewals, as well as input their firearms records into the state Division of Criminal Justice System.
The system would serve another important role in officer protection, Seeley said.
If an emergency call was received requiring an officer to be dispatched to a residence, Seeley said, a quick address search using Gun Keeper would list any potential firearm threats that may be present at the location.
“This is something we really need yesterday,” Seeley said. “We’re getting calls about it every day.”
Some legislators aired concern over the cost of the system and what the return in their investment would be.
“I’m fully confident that we’re going to get this money back,” Seeley said.
Legislator Chris Pfister, D-Athens, asked: “Are we saying that we’re going to generate $24,000 in revenue from pistol permit fees to cover that cost this year?”
Seeley said fees alone would not recoup the cost, but it would be the $15 charge for renewal that would repay much of the investment. Seeley said there were about 10,000 permits held by the sheriff’s office.
While he said most of the current pistol permit holders may renew to have the photo identification card, there was discussion to have the renewal be mandated.
Legislator Kevin Lewis, R-Greenville, said he was in support of the system but questioned how to recover the investment.
“How do we mandate everybody to have a pistol permit renewed?” Lewis said.
Legislator William Lawrence, R-Cairo, said he thought many permit holders in the county not want to pay the $15 for renewal.
Lawrence said he asked Carol Stevens, the county attorney, if a local law could mandate renewal, and she told him it could be done.
“I think we should pass the local law, mandate them, and get rid of these paper products,” said Lewis.
Seeley stressed that it would be difficult to have two different permitting systems and that it needs to be mandated.
“You can’t have two systems running down there,” said Seeley. “It has to be all one system.”
Firearm permits currently cost $111, which includes $106 for fingerprinting services — which the county does not receive — and $5 for the application fee. It was not known by press time if the fee for the new permits would change.
The committee unanimously approved the resolution for the Gun Keeper system and it will be voted on by the full Legislature during the regular meeting on May 19 at 6:30 p.m.
To reach reporter Colin DeVries please call 518-943-2100 ext. 3325, or e-mail [email protected]. To comment on this story visit www.thedailymail.net.
