I thought you couldn't get a carry permit in New York City...

[Questor]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Margaret Johnson might have looked like an easy target.

But when a mugger tried to grab a chain off her neck Friday, the wheelchair-bound 56-year-old pulled out her licensed .357 pistol and shot him, police said.

Johnson said she was in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood on her way to a shooting range when the man, identified by police as 45-year-old Deron Johnson, came up from behind and went for the chain.

"There's not much to it," she said in a brief interview. "Somebody tried to mug me, and I shot him."

Deron Johnson was taken to Harlem Hospital with a single bullet wound in the elbow, police said. He faces a robbery charge, said Lt. John Grimpel, a police spokesman.

Margaret Johnson, who lives in Harlem, has a permit for the weapon and does not face charges, Grimpel said. She also was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and later released.

[Old Griz]

Must be related to someone important.

[BlkHawk73]

  it is possible but is definately NOT easy.  There's basically a couple pretty specific conditions that need to be met and very few meet them.  Also I'm betting it's a lot of $$$.

[1marty]

Getting a carrying permit is almost impossible. I would guess she had a premises-not that difficult to get-and you are allowed to take it off the premises to go to a shooting range. That's why she said she was on her way to a range.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

Score one for the good guys...

[44 Man]

I wouldn't think it would be all that hard to get.  All you would have to do is make a several thousand dollar donation to the right re-election fund!  Of course you must also belong to the proper political party.  And a little greasing of palms to get all the proper paperwork done also.  I really love 'shall issue' states!  44 Man

[Mikey]

44 man - unfortunately, NYC isn't a 'shall issue' state, although they like to think of themselves as a 'city-state' in the ancient Greek style.  Come to think of it though, there is an awful lot of 'greek-style' goin' on down there.............. Mikey.

[oso45-70]

Best news i have heard coming out of New York City in a long-long time, ( GREEK )" Yep in the truest sense ".
We need to enjoy this, It don't happen that often..........Joe.........

[shotgunner]

I liked that " on the way to the range" comment. I know of an indoor range in NY, open 24 hours a day, with membership cards. Mambers keep targets and ammo in the trunk and if they are stopped with a chief special or PPKS in an ankle holster they are "on thier way to the range" no matter what time of the day or night. NY is a bad deal for shooters, and a good place to get out of. Shotgunner

[chris s]

unless you have a carry permit the gun is to be unloaded and in a locked case when traveling to and from the range. There is always more to the story

[greener]

Yeah, but the police would look awfully bad if they arrested a 56-year-old lady for defending herself.  Of course, when Bloomberg hears about it, she'll be in a heap of trouble.