Relates to licenses to purchase, use or store certain compounds

Title of bill

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to licenses to purchase, use, or store certain compounds

Purpose or general idea of bill

This legislation would prohibit the storage, use or purchase of the explosive Tannerite or similar product sold under a different name without the proper license or other authorization to do so under the provisions of law.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 465 of the labor law is renumbered section 466 and a new section 465 is added to require certificates for the purchase, use or storage of products containing components that are advertised and sold together with instructions on how to combine the components to create any device designed or specifically adapted to facilitate a detonation or combustion.

Section 2 of this bill provides the effective date.

Justification

Tannerite is an explosive made from two separate compounds, ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder. The compound is intended to be used as a small exploding target for target practice. However, when large amounts of the chemicals are combined, the results can create a powerful and dangerous explosion. In January of 2013 in Busti, NY, a group of friends target shooting in the woods intentionally exploded 18 pounds of Tannerite. The explosion rattled neighbors and was heard miles away. Fortunately, no one was injured. Additional incidents have been reported elsewhere in New York State and throughout the country. In Indiana in 2012, a woman lost her hand when a friend exploded Tannerite inside of a dryer.

In addition, in January of 2013, the FBI published a bulletin warning that Tannerite may be used as an explosive in improvised explosive devices, commonly known as IEDs. The bulletin explicitly states, "The FBI assesses with medium confidence criminals and extremists may actively be attempting to acquire exploding targets to obtain the ammonium nitrate for use in the manufacture of improvised explosives based on FBI investigations of individuals interested in manufacturing explosives."

This legislation would allow only licensed and authorized individuals to access this very dangerous compound making it more difficult for criminals and terrorists to construct IEDs, as well as-mitigate, potential injuries and deaths associated with the explosion of large quantities of this compound.

Fiscal implications

Minimal.

Legislative history

2014: A.98-11 - Referred to Labor

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.