What's happening
This bill adds certain felony animal cruelty offenses to the definition of "serious offense" for firearm possession laws in New York.
Why it matters
Expanding the definition of "serious offense" to include felony animal cruelty means individuals convicted of these crimes would face stricter gun possession restrictions, similar to those convicted of violent offenses. This could lead to more people being prohibited from legally owning or possessing firearms if they have committed serious animal abuse.
The bill recognizes a connection between animal cruelty and potential public safety risks, reflecting research that links animal abuse with broader patterns of violence. By treating felony animal cruelty as a "serious offense," the law treats these crimes as indicators of dangerousness, which could help prevent future violence.
This change may have broader implications for law enforcement and the judicial system, as it would increase the number and types of convictions that trigger firearm possession bans. Courts and prosecutors would need to consider animal cruelty felonies during firearm-related background checks and sentencing, potentially affecting plea deals and prosecution priorities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Animal Abusers' Gun Ownership
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10166
IN ASSEMBLY
March 22, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the definition of serious offense for purposes of possession of a firearm
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 17 of section 265.00 of the penal law is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
(c) an offense which would constitute a felony offense against an animal pursuant to section three hundred fifty-one, three hundred fifty-three-a, three hundred sixty, or three hundred sixty-one of the agriculture and markets law or section 242.15 of this part.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15060-01-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.