NEW YORK SAYS THAT BUDDY HACKETT NEEDS A GUN to protect himself, but you don’t. Er, unless “you” are one of a list of celebrities and politicoes with the juice to get a special privilege denied to ordinary people:

“Bobby De Niro went down there, got fingerprinted, and the next day picked up his license,” Chambers said. “Celebrity status makes it much easier.”

Richter disputed this. Movie stars – like De Niro, Harvey Keitel and Steven Seagal – and millionaires – like Donald Trump and Winthrop Rockefeller – have to meet the same requirements as anyone else, he said.

“We’ve had a number of celebrities apply who don’t get it,” he said.

Well, there you are, then. Look at the list (it’s at the end of the story) and see if you think this is based on “need.”