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IN RE: Robert SIMMONS, Jr., appellant, v. NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT LICENSE DIVISION, et al., respondents.
In a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the respondent Thomas M. Prasso, the Director of the New York City Police Department License Division, dated March 11, 2004, which, after a hearing, upheld the revocation of the petitioner's handgun license and rifle/shotgun permit, the petitioner appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Vaughan, J.), dated February 18, 2005, which denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.
The respondents are vested with broad discretion in resolving issues regarding the fitness of individuals to possess firearms (see generally Matter of Dorsey v. Teresi, 26 A.D.3d 635, 809 N.Y.S.2d 617; Matter of Papaioannou v. Kelly, 14 A.D.3d 459, 788 N.Y.S.2d 378; Sewell v. City of New York, 182 A.D.2d 469, 583 N.Y.S.2d 255). In this case, where the petitioner challenges the determination, made after an administrative hearing, to revoke his handgun license and rifle/shotgun permit, “the only issue to be reviewed by this Court herein is whether the administrative decision to revoke [the] petitioner's ․ license was arbitrary and capricious or an abuse of discretion [citations omitted], and whether a rational basis exists for the agency's determination” (Matter of Papaioannou v. Kelly, supra at 460, 788 N.Y.S.2d 378; see Matter of Fastag v. Kerik, 295 A.D.2d 114, 743 N.Y.S.2d 428; Matter of Bocchiano v. New York City Police Dept., 213 A.D.2d 264, 624 N.Y.S.2d 21; Matter of Pelose v. County Ct. of Westchester County, 53 A.D.2d 645, 384 N.Y.S.2d 499). Contrary to the petitioner's contention, the Supreme Court properly concluded that the respondents' determination to revoke his handgun license and rifle/shotgun permit based upon his failure to timely report his arrest to the licensing authority, his plea of guilty to disorderly conduct, the issuance of an order of protection against him, and a finding that he displayed a handgun during a confrontation with a neighbor, is rational and is neither arbitrary nor capricious (see Matter of Dorsey v. Teresi, supra; Matter of Papaioannou v. Kelly, supra; Iacono v. Police Dept. of City of New York, 204 A.D.2d 225, 612 N.Y.S.2d 140; Matter of Pelose v. County Court of Westchester County, supra ).
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Decided: December 19, 2006
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.
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Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
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