County clerks from across New York state are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature for answers, guidance and funding.

Following the changes in the state’s gun laws, pistol permit holders and those applying for concealed carry permits are bracing for the changes. This follows the changes Hochul signed into law in an effort to prevent mass shootings and other gun violence.

“I can't reiterate enough from a practical standpoint, this new legislation has created so many more questions with really no answers at this point," said the president of the New York State Association of County Clerks and Putnam County Clerk Michael Bartolotti. 

He says there are too many unknowns to be able to properly inform the public.

“It could wind up being a Herculean task really for us here,” Bartolotti said.

The Association of Clerks sent a letter to the governor’s office on Friday that read, in part, “In haste to pass the new regulations as a reaction to the recent United States Supreme Court ruling, the process as it stands now will be riddled with complex, confusing and redundant barriers of compliance.”

“It's very difficult for us to inform our constituents if we don't know ourselves," said Bartolotti. 

“You know, coming up on the September deadline, it's going to be without any answers,” he said when asked if this is even feasible. “As of today. I would say it's not feasible because we don't have the answers to the questions that everybody has.”

Bartolotti says the concerns are unanimous from county clerks offices throughout the state and county, including where he's located -- Putnam County and Monroe County.

“We just feel at this point that almost to say our hands are tied because we don't have the information that we provide to our customers,” Bartolotti said. “And from my perspective, that's the most frustrating part of the whole thing.”

The governor’s office responded on Monday with a statement:

“Governor Hochul signed landmark legislation developed to comply with the Supreme Court’s recent decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen and drafted in close collaboration with the legislature. We have no further comment given pending litigation.”

Bartolotti says he is disappointed his organization didn’t have a seat at the table as these new gun regulations were being considered.

"From our perspective, in the very least, I would like to say from the perspective of the county clerks throughout the state, I think we would have really appreciated and really needed the opportunity to speak with the legislature voicing our concerns,” he said. “We would be willing to give our advice and expertise to try to make the process work smoothly."