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A5725Assembly2019-2020 Session

Ban Weapons at Public Meetings

Official title

“Prohibits possession of a gun or non-folding knife at a governmental chamber or public hearing of the state or any political subdivision”

Sponsor Steven EnglebrightAD-4+4 co-sponsorsAffects Legal
Status
In Assembly Committee
Codes
Impact
6/10
Moderate
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Codes

What's happening

This bill makes it a felony to possess a firearm, gun, or non-folding knife in government chambers or public hearing rooms, with exceptions for police and authorized security.

Why it matters

  1. Creates stricter security at government facilities. By making it a felony to bring firearms, guns, or non-folding knives into government chambers or public hearing rooms, the bill aims to deter potential threats and enhance safety for government officials, employees, and the public during official proceedings.

  2. Raises the legal consequences for violations. Elevating possession of such weapons in these locations to a class E felony means violators could face prison time and a permanent criminal record, which serves as a strong deterrent compared to lesser charges.

  3. Narrowly tailored exceptions. The bill specifically exempts police officers and individuals providing security under government direction, ensuring that necessary security personnel can remain armed while restricting access for everyone else, including concealed carry permit holders.

  4. Responds to concerns about public safety and civil discourse. By targeting weapons in spaces where political decisions and public debates occur, the bill addresses risks of intimidation or violence that could chill free participation or threaten democratic processes.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Ban Weapons at Public Meetings

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Steven Englebright

Assembly Member · Assembly District 4

History

  1. Referred to codes
  2. Referred to codes

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

5725

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

February 14, 2019

Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, ABBATE, GALEF, DINOWITZ, ORTIZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON, CYMBROWITZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes

AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to prohibited use of weapons

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Section 265.35 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:

4. Any person who possesses a firearm, any other gun or a non-folding knife while upon the premises of any governmental chamber or public hearing room of the state or any political subdivision thereof shall be guilty of a class E felony. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to police officers or persons providing security at the direction of the governmental entity having jurisdiction over the premises.

§ 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.

LBD09520-01-9

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.