What's happening
This bill creates the crime of "operating as a major firearms trafficker," targeting those unlawfully selling or possessing 20 or more firearms within a year.
Why it matters
Targets large-scale illegal gun trafficking. By specifying a threshold of 20 or more firearms within a year, the bill aims to address not just individual or small-scale illegal sales, but organized trafficking operations that supply illegal guns to the streets.
Introduces severe penalties. Classifying the offense as a Class A-I felony places it among the most serious crimes in New York, on par with murder and major drug trafficking, signaling the state’s intent to treat gun trafficking as a grave public safety threat.
Covers both sellers and possessors. The law applies not only to those who actually transfer firearms but also to those who merely possess them with intent to sell, closing a potential loophole where traffickers could avoid prosecution by not completing a sale.
Potential deterrent for “iron pipeline” suppliers. By increasing legal risk for those who move large quantities of illegal firearms, the bill may deter individuals or groups who serve as key suppliers in the flow of guns from other states into New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Target Major Gun Traffickers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Criminalize Major Gun Trafficking
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Jeffrey D. Klein
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
360
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 5, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, MAYER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to creating the offense of operating as a major firearms trafficker
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 265.46 to read as follows: § 265.46 Operating as a major firearms trafficker.
A person is guilty of operating as a major firearms trafficker when such person:
(1) unlawfully sells, exchanges, gives or disposes of to another person or persons a total of twenty or more firearms in a period of not more than one year; or
(2) unlawfully possesses with intent to sell twenty or more firearms.
Operating as a major firearms trafficker is a class A-I felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06309-01-7
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.