Fines and Fees and Poll Taxes

So a NYC councilmen outright admits that their gun permit fees are fines.

These people just don’t get it. What if you had to pay a fine to be a practicing Jew, Muslim, or Christian? What if the neighbors wanted zoning to keep Jewish Delis and the residences of homosexuals more than one mile from all schools? Feelings are only loosely correlated with reality.

This doesn't even touch the idea of the government capriciously and near randomly denying people to practice despite having filled out the forms and paid their jizya.

Edit: Yeah... this crossed the line. It's not the same, there's a similarity but it's not the same level of state control. /Edit

Bluntly put, May-Issue is giving the state the power to deny a fundamental numerated right on a default. You have to prove to them that you deserve it. And a May-Issue CCW permit is the only way to legally own a handgun in New York State.

Unless you happen to work for the state. And if you're connected -well- that's why the May in May-Issue allows for broad discretion on the part of the state.

But the rest of you serfs better buck up and stay in line.

Note this is a major reason why it will be a long time before I consider moving back to New York (taxes, incompetent government, and dearth of jobs aside). I have some very good friends in the Buffalo area, but I have a hard time abiding by living in such an environment.

It's a good place to visit, which was a pleasure over the weekend, but I feel somewhat naked whenever I go, now.