What's happening
This bill would allow rifles, shotguns, and firearms on college and university campuses in New York State.
Why it matters
Significantly changes safety and security protocols. By removing colleges and universities from the list of places where possessing rifles, shotguns, or firearms is a felony, the bill could alter how campus law enforcement, students, and staff prepare for and respond to potential threats or emergencies.
Potential impact on campus culture and student life. Allowing firearms on campus may affect students’ sense of safety, influence enrollment decisions, and change the overall atmosphere in academic environments, possibly shaping debates around personal freedoms versus collective security.
Shifts liability and administrative burdens. Colleges and universities may need to reassess their own policies regarding firearms, possibly facing increased insurance costs, legal complexities, and the need to create or revise training, storage, and notification systems for firearms on campus.
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Who cares
College and university students, employees and visitors
The bill would exempt possession of rifles, shotguns and firearms on college and university buildings or grounds from this school-grounds felony provision.
College and university administrators
Written institutional authorization would no longer be required to avoid liability under this provision for possessing these weapons on campus.
Campus police and prosecutors
The bill would remove college and university buildings and grounds from the locations covered by this class E felony.
Headline styles
Allow Guns on College Campuses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 62
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1754
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to allowing rifles, shotguns, and firearms on college and university campuses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 265.01-a of the penal law, as added by chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows: § 265.01-a[.] Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds.
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds when he or she knowingly has in his or her possession a rifle, shotgun, or firearm in or upon a building or grounds, used for educational purposes, of any school[, college, or university, except the forestry lands, wherever located, owned and maintained by the State University of New York college of environmental science and forestry,] or upon a school bus as defined in section one hundred forty-two of the vehicle and traffic law, without the written authorization of such educational institution. This section shall not apply to college or university buildings or grounds.
Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds is a class E felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04849-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to allowing rifles, shotguns, and firearms on college and university campuses
Purpose or general idea of bill
This section allows for the possession of a rifle, shotgun, or firearm on a college or university campus.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends section 265.01 of the penal law by removing references to college or universities and specifically stating that this section shall not apply to college or university buildings or grounds.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
The current law penalizes the law abiding citizen who is unable to carry their rifle, shotgun, or firearm onto a college campus even though they are legally able to do so elsewhere. This has led to incidents where individuals returning from a hunting trip, or visit to the gun range have found themselves in a serious position due to their having a weapon they are legally allowed to possess. This section of law does nothing to actually protect students with the ongoing spate of shootings at colleges and universities. Rather it attempts to use this issue as another way to infringe upon and limit and individuals second amendment right.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding its enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.