What's happening
This bill allows registered armed security guards and licensed private investigators to carry firearms in New York City without a city-issued special permit.
Why it matters
Expands armed carry rights for security professionals. The bill allows registered armed security guards and licensed private investigators to legally carry firearms in New York City with just a state pistol license, bypassing the city’s historically strict and hard-to-obtain special permit system.
May increase workforce flexibility for security firms. By eliminating the need for a separate NYC permit, security companies could more easily deploy armed personnel across city lines, potentially improving their ability to respond to client needs and offer continuous protection.
Could impact public safety and oversight. Reducing local control might raise concerns about consistent vetting and supervision, as NYC authorities would no longer have final say over who is permitted to carry firearms in the city for these professions.
Signals a shift in state-versus-local authority. The change reflects a broader trend of state preemption over local gun regulations, setting a precedent for how professional licensing and firearms policy interact in one of the country’s most regulated jurisdictions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Armed Guards in NYC
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1128
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to permitting security guard companies in certain instances to perform security related work in the city of New York by armed guards without obtaining a New York city firearms special permit
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 6 of section 400.00 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 318 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
6. License: validity. Any license issued pursuant to this section shall be valid notwithstanding the provisions of any local law or ordinance. No license shall be transferable to any other person or premises. A license to carry or possess a pistol or revolver, not otherwise limited as to place or time of possession, shall be effective throughout the state, except that the same shall not be valid within the city of New York unless a special permit granting validity is issued by the police commissioner of that city. Such license to carry or possess shall be valid within the city of New York in the absence of a permit issued by the police commissioner of that city, provided that (a) the firearms covered by such license have been purchased from a licensed dealer within the city of New York and are being transported out of said city forthwith and immediately from said dealer by the licensee in a locked container during a continuous and uninterrupted trip; or provided that (b) the firearms covered by such license are being transported by the licensee in a locked container and the trip through the city of New York is continuous and uninterrupted; or provided that (c) the firearms covered by such license are carried by armored car security guards transporting money or other valuables, in, to, or from motor vehicles commonly known as armored cars, during the course of their employment;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04450-01-7
A. 1128 2
or provided that (d) the licensee is a retired police officer as police officer is defined pursuant to subdivision thirty-four of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law or a retired federal law enforcement officer, as defined in section 2.15 of the criminal procedure law, who has been issued a license by an authorized licensing officer as defined in subdivision ten of section 265.00 of this chapter; provided, further, however, that if such license was not issued in the city of New York it must be marked "Retired Police Officer" or "Retired Federal Law Enforcement Officer", as the case may be, and, in the case of a retired officer the license shall be deemed to permit only police or federal law enforcement regulations weapons; or provided that (e) the licensee is a peace officer described in subdivision four of section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law and the license, if issued by other than the city of New York, is marked "New York State Tax Department Peace Officer" and in such case the exemption shall apply only to the firearm issued to such licensee by the department of taxation and finance; or provided that (f) the licensee is a special armed guard duly registered and in good standing with the department of state pursuant to article seven-A of the general business law, or is a private investigator duly licensed and in good standing with the department of state pursuant to article seven of the general business law. A license as gunsmith or dealer in firearms shall not be valid outside the city or county, as the case may be, where issued.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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