What's happening
This bill creates the crime of "major firearms trafficker" for unlawfully selling or possessing with intent to sell 20 or more firearms in one year.
Why it matters
Targets large-scale gun trafficking. By focusing on those who unlawfully sell or possess with intent to sell 20 or more firearms within a year, the law aims to disrupt organized or commercial-level gun distribution networks, rather than small-scale or individual offenders.
Severe penalties intended as deterrent. Classifying the offense as a Class A-I felony—the highest class of felony in New York—means convicted individuals could face very lengthy prison sentences, signaling the state’s intent to strongly deter major gun traffickers.
Creates a clear legal threshold. The specific number (20 firearms in one year) provides law enforcement and prosecutors with a clear, quantifiable benchmark for charging and prosecuting major traffickers, potentially making cases easier to prove in court.
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Who cares
Prosecutors
The bill would create a class A-I felony for unlawfully transferring at least 20 firearms within one year or unlawfully possessing at least 20 firearms with intent to sell.
Police investigators
The new offense would make firearm counts, transfer timing and evidence of intent to sell central to major firearms trafficking investigations.
People accused of firearms trafficking and defense attorneys
Conduct meeting either 20-firearm threshold would expose defendants to prosecution for the new class A-I felony.
Headline styles
Target Gun Trafficking Rings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
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.
Crack Down on Gun Trafficking
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Robert Jackson
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
674
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to creating the offense of operating as a major firearms trafficker
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 265.46 to read as follows: § 265.46 Operating as a major firearms trafficker.
A person is guilty of operating as a major firearms trafficker when such person:
(1) unlawfully sells, exchanges, gives or disposes of to another person or persons a total of twenty or more firearms in a period of not more than one year; or
(2) unlawfully possesses with intent to sell twenty or more firearms.
Operating as a major firearms trafficker is a class A-I felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03708-01-9
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.