What's happening
This bill requires all gun owners in New York to securely store rifles, shotguns, and firearms, regardless of household members' legal status.
Why it matters
Expands safe storage requirements. The bill removes previous language that only required secure storage if someone in the household was legally prohibited from possessing firearms, making secure storage mandatory for all gun owners regardless of who lives with them.
Aims to prevent unauthorized access. By requiring guns to be locked in a safe or with a locking device at all times unless under the owner’s immediate control, the bill seeks to reduce risks of theft, accidents, and unauthorized use, including by children or visitors.
Uniform statewide standard. The amendment overrides the previous, more limited application and creates a consistent expectation of gun storage safety across New York, regardless of local variations or household composition.
Legal and practical impact. Violations become a class A misdemeanor, raising legal consequences for improper storage and likely encouraging more widespread use of gun safes and locks among gun owners.
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 Safe Gun Storage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
20 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
506
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI, JAFFEE, PAULIN, MOSLEY, STECK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, GLICK, GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the safe storage of rifles, shotguns, and firearms
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 265.45 of the penal law, as amended by section 3 of part FF of chapter 57 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows: § 265.45 Safe storage of rifles, shotguns, and firearms.
No person who owns or is custodian of a rifle, shotgun or firearm [who resides with an individual who such person knows or has reason to know is prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (1), (4), (8) or (9)] shall store or otherwise leave such rifle, shotgun or firearm out of his or her immediate possession or control without having first securely locked such rifle, shotgun or firearm in an appropriate safe storage depository or rendered it incapable of being fired by use of a gun locking device appropriate to that weapon. For purposes of this section "safe storage depository" shall mean a safe or other secure container which, when locked, is incapable of being opened without the key, combination or other unlocking mechanism and is capable of preventing an unauthorized person from obtaining access to and possession of the weapon contained therein. [With respect to a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to 18 USC § 922(g)(9), for purposes of this section, this section applies only if such person has been convicted of a crime included in subdivision one of section 370.15 of the criminal procedure law and such gun is possessed within five years from the later of the date of conviction or completion of sentence.] Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect, impair
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04362-01-9
A. 506 2
or supersede any special or local act relating to the safe storage of rifles, shotguns or firearms which impose additional requirements on the owner or custodian of such weapons.
A violation of this section shall constitute a class A misdemeanor.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.