In a compelling legal battle, a resident of Suffolk County is challenging local authorities over alleged violations of his Second Amendment rights. On November 10, 2025, Paul Felice filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Suffolk County and two individuals, Michael Komorowski and Brian Knussman. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of unlawfully denying Felice's right to acquire and possess handguns for self-defense in his home.
The complaint, represented by The Bellantoni Law Firm, PLLC, outlines Felice's struggle with the Suffolk County Police Department Pistol Licensing Bureau (PLB) over an extended period. Felice claims that despite having no disqualifiers under state or federal law and successfully passing federal background checks for long guns, he faced undue obstacles when applying for a pistol license. The lawsuit details how Felice began his application process on September 5, 2022, but was subjected to an arduous wait time of nearly 18 months before receiving a determination on his application.
Felice's grievances center around what he describes as unconstitutional policies enforced by the PLB. He highlights that applicants are required to disclose any mental health treatment history and provide a doctor's note affirming their safety to possess firearms—requirements not mandated by state law but imposed by Suffolk County policy. Despite having no adjudicated mental health issues or criminal background that would bar him from gun ownership, Felice's application was denied due to his refusal to comply with these demands. The denial letter cited "failure to submit a doctor’s note" and "good cause" as reasons for rejection—a standard repealed from New York law in 2022.
Felice seeks declaratory and injunctive relief from the court, alongside compensatory damages for the violation of his constitutional rights. He argues that the county's policies not only infringe upon his Second Amendment rights but also impose an unjust barrier on law-abiding citizens seeking to exercise their right to self-defense within their homes.
The case is being handled by Amy L. Bellantoni of The Bellantoni Law Firm, PLLC. It has been assigned Case No.: 25 Civ. 6254 in front of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Source: 225cv06254_Felice_v_Suffolk_County_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf