What's happening
This bill allows rifles, shotguns, and firearms on college and university campuses by removing them from the ban on weapons on school grounds.
Why it matters
The bill specifically removes college and university campuses from New York's criminal ban on possessing rifles, shotguns, and firearms on school grounds, meaning students, faculty, and visitors could legally bring these weapons onto these properties unless otherwise restricted.
This change could significantly affect campus safety policies and the sense of security for students, faculty, and staff, potentially increasing the presence of firearms in academic settings and shifting campus culture and debate around gun rights and safety.
The legislation may create inconsistencies across educational institutions, as K-12 schools would remain subject to the ban, while colleges and universities would not, potentially complicating law enforcement responses and institutional policy development.
If passed, the bill could invite legal and political challenges, impact university liability and insurance considerations, and influence New York's broader debates on gun control and Second Amendment rights.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Guns on College Campuses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
285
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to allowing rifles, shotguns, and firearms on college and university campuses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 265.01-a of the penal law, as added by chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows: § 265.01-a[.] Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds.
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds when he or she knowingly has in his or her possession a rifle, shotgun, or firearm in or upon a building or grounds, used for educational purposes, of any school[, college, or university, except the forestry lands, wherever located, owned and maintained by the State University of New York college of environmental science and forestry,] or upon a school bus as defined in section one hundred forty-two of the vehicle and traffic law, without the written authorization of such educational institution. This section shall not apply to college or university buildings or grounds.
Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds is a class E felony.
§ 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.
LBD02492-01-9
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, in relation to allowing rifles, shotguns, and firearms on college and university campuses
Purpose or general idea of bill
This section allows for the possession of a rifle, shotgun, or firearm on a college or university campus.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends section 265.01 of the penal law by removing references to college or universities and specifically stating that this section shall not apply to college or university buildings or grounds.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
The current law penalizes the law abiding citizen who is unable to carry their rifle, shotgun, or firearm onto a college campus even though they are legally able to do so elsewhere. This has led to incidents where individuals returning from a hunting trip, or visit to the gun range have found themselves in a serious position due to their having a weapon they are legally allowed to possess. This section of law does nothing to actually protect students with the ongoing spate of shootings at colleges and universities. Rather it attempts to use this issue as another way to infringe upon and limit and individuals second amendment right.
Prior legislative history
S. 1754 of 2017/2018 Referred to Codes.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.