What's happening
This bill requires individuals to show proof of personal liability insurance before being issued a license to carry a firearm in New York.
Why it matters
Adds a new requirement for personal liability insurance. Applicants for a license to carry a firearm must now provide proof of personal liability insurance, meaning they must secure and maintain insurance coverage that could help cover damages if they are found liable for harm caused by their firearm.
Potentially increases the financial burden and complexity of gun ownership. The insurance mandate could make it more expensive and complicated to obtain or renew a firearm license, possibly limiting access for some individuals, especially those with limited financial means.
Shifts some risk and cost from the public to private insurers. By requiring gun owners to carry liability insurance, the bill could help ensure that victims of accidental or negligent firearm use have access to compensation, rather than relying solely on the perpetrator’s assets or public funds.
May create new compliance and enforcement challenges. Licensing officers and law enforcement will need to verify valid insurance coverage, and there could be legal questions about what types and amounts of insurance qualify, as well as how lapses in coverage are handled.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Gun Liability Insurance
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
349
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 5, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PERRY, KAVANAGH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. AUBRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to requiring proof of liability insurance prior to the issuance of a license to carry a firearm
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 400.00 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
1. Eligibility. No license shall be issued or renewed pursuant to this section except by the licensing officer, and then only after investigation and finding that all statements in a proper application for a license are true. No license shall be issued or renewed except for an applicant (a) twenty-one years of age or older, provided, however, that where such applicant has been honorably discharged from the United States army, navy, marine corps, air force or coast guard, or the national guard of the state of New York, no such age restriction shall apply; (b) of good moral character; (c) who has not been convicted anywhere of a felony or a serious offense; (d) who is not a fugitive from justice; (e) who is not an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance as defined in section 21 U.S.C. 802; (f) who being an alien (i) is not illegally or unlawfully in the United States or (ii) has not been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa subject to the exception in 18 U.S.C. 922(y)(2); (g) who has not been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions; (h) who, having been a citizen of the United States, has not renounced his or her citizenship; (i) who has stated whether he or she has ever suffered any mental illness; (j) who has not been involuntarily committed to a facility under the jurisdiction of an office of the department of mental hygiene pursuant to article nine or fifteen of the mental hygiene law, article seven hundred thirty or section 330.20 of the criminal procedure law, section four hundred two or five hundred eight of the correction
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06406-01-7
A. 349 2
law, section 322.2 or 353.4 of the family court act, or has not been civilly confined in a secure treatment facility pursuant to article ten of the mental hygiene law; (k) who has not had a license revoked or who is not under a suspension or ineligibility order issued pursuant to the provisions of section 530.14 of the criminal procedure law or section eight hundred forty-two-a of the family court act; (l) in the county of Westchester, who has successfully completed a firearms safety course and test as evidenced by a certificate of completion issued in his or her name and endorsed and affirmed under the penalties of perjury by a duly authorized instructor, except that: (i) persons who are honorably discharged from the United States army, navy, marine corps or coast guard, or of the national guard of the state of New York, and produce evidence of official qualification in firearms during the term of service are not required to have completed those hours of a firearms safety course pertaining to the safe use, carrying, possession, maintenance and storage of a firearm; and (ii) persons who were licensed to possess a pistol or revolver prior to the effective date of this paragraph are not required to have completed a firearms safety course and test; (m) who has not had a guardian appointed for him or her pursuant to any provision of state law, based on a determination that as a result of marked subnormal intelligence, mental illness, incapacity, condition or disease, he or she lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage his or her own affairs; [and] (n) who submits proof of personal liability insurance; and (o) concerning whom no good cause exists for the denial of the license. No person shall engage in the business of gunsmith or dealer in firearms unless licensed pursuant to this section. An applicant to engage in such business shall also be a citizen of the United States, more than twenty-one years of age and maintain a place of business in the city or county where the license is issued. For such business, if the applicant is a firm or partnership, each member thereof shall comply with all of the requirements set forth in this subdivision and if the applicant is a corporation, each officer thereof shall so comply.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to licenses issued or renewed on or after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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