Pistol permits soared in N.Y. in 2012 – The number of pistol permits in New York soared 14% between 2011 and 2012 in advance of a gun-control law passed last month.  Amid concerns about tougher gun laws in New York and nationally, residents obtained nearly 20,000 pistol permits in 2012, up about 2,500 since 2011, New York State Police records obtained by Gannett’s Albany (N.Y.) Bureau showed.