What's happening
This bill allows Albany County to require sheriff-supervised firearms safety courses for pistol license applicants, using law enforcement-owned guns.
Why it matters
Direct sheriff oversight aims to ensure firearms safety courses are taught by trained law enforcement, potentially increasing the quality and consistency of instruction for pistol license applicants.
Allowing applicants to handle law enforcement-owned pistols before being licensed provides a controlled environment for learning, possibly reducing accidental misuse or mishandling after licensing.
The requirement is opt-in for Albany County via local law, giving local government flexibility and community input on whether to implement stricter safety standards for gun ownership.
State police oversight—mandating course approval and periodic review—introduces an additional layer of regulatory checks, aiming to standardize curriculum and prevent unqualified third parties from conducting critical parts of firearms training.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Albany Sheriff Issues Gun Licenses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to codes
- Returned to assembly
- Repassed senate
- Amended on third reading 907a
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to codes
- Delivered to assembly
Show 5 earlier actions
- Passed senateVote 60–3
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.912
- 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.
Albany Sheriff Issues Gun Licenses
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor John T. McDonald III
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
907--A Cal. No. 912
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 5, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AMEDORE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to designating the sheriff of the county of Albany as a licensing officer for the purposes of firearms and authorizing the possession in the county of Albany of a pistol or revolver while attending a firearms familiarity, safety, loading and firing course conducted by the office of the sheriff of such county; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal law is amended by adding a new paragraph 7-g to read as follows:
7-g. Possession of a pistol or revolver by a person who has applied to the appropriate licensing officer in Albany County for a license to possess a pistol or revolver and who appears to be eligible to receive such license pursuant to subdivision one of section 400.00 of this chapter and where such possession is: (i) of a pistol or revolver owned by a local law enforcement agency; and (ii) at a firearms training facility operated by such agency while under the supervision, guidance and instruction of a police officer during a firearms familiarity, safety, loading and firing course conducted by such agency; provided, however, that this paragraph shall only apply in Albany County and only where the county opts by local law to require such a course before a person may be issued a license pursuant to section 400.00 of this chapter. Prior to a course being conducted by a law enforcement agency pursuant to this paragraph, such course shall be approved by the superintendent of the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03831-03-7
S. 907--A 2
state police and shall be periodically reviewed by the superintendent for compliance with applicable rules and regulations. Any course conducted pursuant to this paragraph shall only be operated by a law enforcement agency and shall not be delegated or assigned to any third party persons or entities. The superintendent of the state police shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this paragraph including standards for the operation of a firearms familiarity, safety, loading and firing course. Nothing in this paragraph shall be read to require approval of the superintendent of the state police for any firearms safety course operated by law enforcement or third party individuals or entities that does not include the handling, loading or firing of a pistol or revolver.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law, and shall expire and be deemed repealed June 1, 2020.
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 designating the sheriff of the county of Albany as a licensing officer for the purposes of firearms and authorizing the possession in the county of Albany of a pistol or revolver while attending a firearms familiarity, safety, loading and firing course conducted by the office of the sheriff of such county; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
This legislation allows the sheriff of the county of Albany to conduct firearms safety courses for current pistol permit applicants.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal law by adding a new paragraph 7-g.
Section 2: Sets the effective date.
Justification
Current statute does not allow pistol permit applicants to handle a pistol prior to their permit being approved. Many individuals are receiving their pistol permits while never having shot a pistol before. This legislation allows pistol permit applicants in the county of Albany to take a firearms familiarity, safety, loading and firing course conducted by the Albany County Sheriff's Department. The intent of the legislation is to help applicants become more familiar with best firearm safety practices prior to receiving their pistol permit.
Legislative history
2016: 57606 - Passed Senate.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law, and shall expire and be deemed repealed three years after it shall take effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.