Thousands of people in Erie and Niagara counties have applies for pistol permits ahead of new gun laws now in effect throughout the state.

More than 1,600 new pistol permit applications were filed in Niagara County just in August alone. That’s more than double the amount filed from the beginning of the year through the end of July.

In Erie County, officials say in just the last three days of August, more than 2,000 new pistol permit applications were submitted.

Last year, more than 5,600 people submitted applications in Erie County.

Once the applications are submitted, there is still a multi-step process that includes the sheriff's office and a judge and can often take several months. That waiting period will likely be even longer as counties like Erie and Niagara expect they'll have had as many applications over the last several weeks as they sometimes get in a year.