What's happening
This bill criminalizes the possession, manufacture, transport, and sale of trigger cranks, bump-fire devices, and similar firearm firing accelerators in New York, with exceptions for law enforcement.
Why it matters
Targets devices that increase semi-automatic rifles’ firing rates. By banning trigger cranks, bump-fire devices, and similar accessories, the bill aims to prevent semi-automatic firearms from being easily modified to mimic machine-gun firing speeds, which can dramatically increase the potential lethality of these weapons.
Establishes new criminal penalties. The bill creates specific felony charges for possession, manufacture, and transport of these devices—making it a class E felony (less severe than a class D felony but still a serious crime), which could deter individuals and businesses from dealing in these parts and accessories.
Limits exceptions to law enforcement. The only allowed sales or transfers of these devices are to law enforcement agencies or government bodies, meaning private citizens and businesses would no longer be able to legally possess, sell, or buy them—potentially reducing their prevalence in the general public.
Signals a policy response to mass shooting tactics. This legislation is part of a broader effort to address gaps in gun law exposed by mass shootings where such rapid-fire devices have been used, responding to concerns about public safety and the ability of existing firearm regulations to keep pace with technological adaptations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Rapid-Fire Gun Devices
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1337
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law and the general business law, in relation to the possession, manufacture or sale of a trigger crank, a bump-fire device or other firing accelerators
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 265.01 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
(9) A person is guilty of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree when, with knowledge of the character thereof, he possesses a trigger crank, a bump-fire device, or any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory which is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle in such a way so as to approximate the operation of a machine-gun.
§ 2. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 265.10 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 257 of the laws of 2008, are amended to read as follows:
1. Any person who manufactures or causes to be manufactured any machine-gun, assault weapon, large capacity ammunition feeding device or disguised gun is guilty of a class D felony. Any person who manufactures or causes to be manufactured a trigger crank, a bump-fire device, or any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory which is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semiautomatic rifle in such a way so as to approximate the operation of a machine-gun is guilty of a class E felony. Any person who manufactures or causes to be manufactured any switchblade knife, gravity knife, pilum ballistic knife, metal knuckle knife, billy, blackjack, bludgeon, plastic knuckles, metal knuckles, Kung Fu star, chuka stick, sandbag, sandclub or slungshot is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07581-01-9
S. 1337 2
2. Any person who transports or ships any machine-gun, firearm silencer, assault weapon or large capacity ammunition feeding device or disguised gun, or who transports or ships as merchandise five or more firearms, is guilty of a class D felony. Any person who transports or ships a trigger crank, a bump-fire device, or any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory which is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle in such a way so as to approximate the operation of a machine-gun is guilty of a class E felony. Any person who transports or ships as merchandise any firearm, other than an assault weapon, switchblade knife, gravity knife, pilum ballistic knife, billy, blackjack, bludgeon, plastic knuckles, metal knuckles, Kung Fu star, chuka stick, sandbag or slungshot is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
§ 3. Subdivision 3 of section 897 of the general business law is renumbered subdivision 4 and a new subdivision 3 is added to read as follows:
3. No trigger crank, a bump-fire device, or any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory which is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle in such a way so as to approximate the operation of a machine-gun shall be sold in this state to any person, firm, association or corporation except that nothing in this section shall be construed to forbid the sale of such goods to the state or any political subdivision thereof for a law enforcement agency.
§ 4. Subdivision 6 of section 898 of the general business law is renumbered subdivision 7 and a new subdivision 6 is added to read as follows:
6. No trigger crank, a bump-fire device, or any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory which is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle in such a way so as to approximate the operation of a machine-gun shall be sold in this state to any person, firm, association or corporation except that nothing in this section shall be construed to forbid the sale of such goods to the state or any political subdivision thereof for a law enforcement agency.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section one of this act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law and the general business law, in relation to the possession, manufacture or sale of a trigger crank, a bump-fire device or other firing accelerators
Purpose or general idea of bill
To prohibit the possession, manufacture, transportation, shipment and sale of items that accelerate the firing rate of semi-automatic rifles.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends § 265.01, subdivision (2) of the penal law.
Section 2 amends § 265.10 subdivisions (1) and (2) of the penal law.
Section 3 amends § 898 of the general business law by adding a new subdivision 6.
Justification
The possession of machine guns by civilians has been prohibited in the United States for close to one hundred years. There is no legitimate reason for any person to possess the functional equivalent of a machine gun.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.6918 - Referred to Codes
2017: S.6918 - Referred to Rules / A.8717 - Referred to Codes
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Sections one of this act shall take effect 120 days after becoming law. Sections two and three shall take effect immediately after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.