What's happening
This bill classifies hate crimes as serious offenses, restricting firearm possession for individuals convicted of such crimes.
Why it matters
Expands the definition of "serious offenses". By adding hate crimes to the list of serious offenses under state law, the bill elevates the legal consequences for those convicted, particularly regarding firearm restrictions.
Targets gun access for hate crime offenders. Individuals convicted of hate crimes would be barred from legally possessing firearms, aiming to reduce the risk of gun violence motivated by bias or hate.
Responds to data on hate crimes involving guns. The bill cites evidence that thousands of hate crimes nationwide involve firearms, seeking to address this specific threat by tightening who can own guns after a hate crime conviction.
Signals heightened state response to hate-motivated violence. The legislation positions hate crimes as not just socially destructive but as serious public safety threats, justifying stronger preventative measures under gun laws.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Bar Guns for Hate Crimes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Print number 6263a
- Amend and recommit to codes
- 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.
Ban Guns for Hate Crimes
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6263--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 4, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. WALKER, D'URSO, GOTTFRIED, SIMON, BLAKE, ORTIZ -read once and referred to the Committee on Codes -- recommitted to the Committee on Codes in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to categorizing hate crimes as serious offenses in relation to possession of firearms and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings. (a) As the New York state legislature found in enacting the Hate Crimes Act of 2000, "The intolerable truth is that in these crimes, commonly and justly referred to as 'hate crimes', victims are intentionally selected, in whole or in part, because of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation. Hate crimes do more than threaten the safety and welfare of all citizens. They inflict on victims incalculable physical and emotional damage and tear at the very fabric of free society. Crimes motivated by invidious hatred toward particular groups not only harm individual victims but send a powerful message of intolerance and discrimination to all members of the group to which the victim belongs. Hate crimes can and do intimidate and disrupt entire communities and vitiate the civility that is essential to healthy democratic processes."
(b) The pernicious harm of hate crimes on targeted individuals and communities is compounded by the use of firearms to threaten and harm the victims. According to one recent analysis, between 2010 and 2015, there were roughly 46,500 hate crimes committed in the United States that involved a gun. The threat of a gun from dangerous extremists sends a clear message that they not only harbor feelings of bias or hate against a particular group, but also that they are willing to kill in
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02177-04-0
A. 6263--A 2
service of this ideology. Keeping guns out of the hands of individuals who perpetrate hate crimes is therefore a crucial measure to help ensure the safety of groups that have historically been targeted. Current state law does not adequately ensure that individuals who have been convicted of hate crimes do not have easy access to guns.
§ 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 17 of section 265.00 of the penal law, as amended by section 3 of chapter 232 of the laws of 2010, is REPEALED.
§ 3. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 17 of section 265.00 of the penal law, as amended by section 2 of chapter 232 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
(b) any of the following offenses defined in the penal law: illegally using, carrying or possessing a pistol or other dangerous weapon; possession of burglar's tools; criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree; escape in the third degree; jostling; fraudulent accosting; endangering the welfare of a child; the offenses defined in article two hundred thirty-five; issuing abortional articles; permitting prostitution; promoting prostitution in the third degree; stalking in the fourth degree; stalking in the third degree; the offenses defined in article one hundred thirty; the offenses defined in article two hundred twenty; a hate crime as defined in article four hundred eighty-five.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
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.