Anyone who obtained a pistol permit before Jan. 31, 2013, must renew their license by January of 2018.

So, handgun owners have more than a year to complete the application, and representatives from state police, which is handling the re-certification, said the process will be simplified.

This is all part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s New York SAFE Ac, and apply only to handguns, not long guns.

Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs said this week New York State Police in the coming weeks will send letters to pistol permit who received permits prior to Jan. 31, 2013.

Those letters will provide information on the pistol permit re-certification process required under the SAFE Act.

New York State Police officials said Friday they are nearly complete with the website that will handle the state’s applications. Gun owners will also have the option of downloading an application from the state police website or picking one up at a their local state police barracks.

“The state police is in the final stages of implementing a simple process which can be completed online or by mail, that will allow pistol permit holders who need to re-certify by January 2018 to complete that and be in compliance with the law,” said Beau Duffy, the state police director of public information. “Our goal is to ensure those permit holders that must re-certify by January 2018, that first wave, will have a clear and easy path to do that.”

More information about the re-certification process can be found by visiting the website, www.safeact.ny.gov, or by calling 1-855-LAW-GUNS.

Duffy said state police are expected to have the website finished before most of the permit holders receive their letters prompting them to reapply.