What's happening
This bill requires privately made firearms in New York to have a unique serial number and be registered with authorities.
Why it matters
Targets “ghost guns” by requiring all privately made firearms to be traceable. , which addresses a major gap in current gun laws where unmarked, homemade guns can circulate without oversight.
Creates a new class C felony for failing to serialize and register a homemade firearm. , meaning individuals could face significant criminal penalties if they don’t comply—this raises the stakes for hobbyists and unlicensed gun makers.
Mandates submission of detailed information (serial number, size, and photo) to the state’s Department of Criminal Justice Services. , enhancing law enforcement’s ability to track and investigate firearms involved in crimes or illegal transfers.
Aims to deter illegal gun sales and possession by closing loopholes. that allow people prohibited from owning guns to acquire untraceable firearms, thus potentially improving public safety and accountability.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Require Serial Numbers on Homemade Guns
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-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.
Require Serial Numbers on Guns
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Anna Kaplan
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2492
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE, SIMON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to requiring all firearms manufactured, crafted or built by private individuals to have an identifying serial number
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 265.50 to read as follows: § 265.50 Failure to identify a firearm.
(1) Firearms manufactured, crafted, assembled or built by private individuals shall have an identifying serial number engraved, casted, stamped (impressing), or otherwise conspicuously placed on the frame or receiver of the firearm. The serial number must be placed in a manner not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered, or removed, and must not duplicate any serial number placed by the individual on any other firearm.
(2) The individual shall submit the firearm's serial number to the department of criminal justice services with the firearm's size and a photograph of the firearm.
Failure to identify a firearm is a class C felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04583-01-9
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.