[ithacaartist]

All handguns passing between private individuals in NYS are transferred through a dealer, so there's a transfer fee involved. The recipient undergoes a NICS background check, and the seller gets paperwork to allow removal of the pistol from his/her permit. Long guns between individuals are still unrestricted--unless it's a registered, dreaded "assault rifle," which can only be transferred to immediate family, or sold to a dealer or out-of -state. CA is likely at this level, or worse.

I'm not particularly upset by having a background check, although a transfer would take up way less of the dealer's time without one. I don't know of any other way of ascertaining whether or not the intended new owner is a danger to him/herself or others. Of course, they miss a significant number of inappropriate candidates because the data base is only as accurate or timely as it is maintained--and we saw the system fail miserably with the last couple shooters because of this.