There are many pistol permit holders who may not be aware of the upcoming deadline to recertify their permits, according to St. Lawrence County Clerk Mary Lou Rupp.

Recertification of pistol permits is required by law, and failure to do so will result in revocation of the permit and surrender of all firearms including pistols, rifles and shotguns, Rupp warned.

If you were issued a pistol permit prior to Jan. 15, 2013, the deadline to submit recertification is Jan. 31, 2018. For permits issued on or after Jan. 15, 2013, the deadline to recertify is five years after the date the permit was issued.

Rupp said that recertification is done through the New York State Police, not the county clerk’s office. Although recertification forms and computers are available for public use at the clerk’s office, merely updating the information on your permit does not recertify the permit. “You need to go to the website or mail the form,” Rupp said.

Rupp said recertification is the responsibility of permit holders whether they receive a notification letter or not.

The filer will need to list all firearms including weapons that are co-registered. This is for pistols only, not long rifles, Rupp said in her public notice.

To recertify, go to https://firearms.troopers.ny.gov/pprecert/welcome.faces and follow instructions, download the forms to mail from https://troopers.ny.gov/firearms/, or visit any NYS Police location.

Those who renew by mail will not receive notification of recertification , but can check the status online.

Answers may also be obtained by calling 1-855-LAWGUNS (1-855-529-4867).

Applicants will not be recertified until the information has been received and entered, Rupp said.