NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2556
SPONSOR: Lavine TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to requiring all firearms
manufactured, crafted or built by private individuals to have an identi-
fying serial number
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To require that all firearms manufactured, crafted, assembled or built
by private individuals have an identifying serial number engraved, cast-
ed, or impressed on the frame or receiver of the firearm.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The penal law is amended by adding a new section 265.50
JUSTIFICATION:
In 2015, New York State charged three residents for illegally assembling
and selling untraceable military-grade assault weapons known as "Ghost
Guns." These ghost guns are assembled and require no serial number,
therefore, causing concern that non-law abiding citizens can easily make
completely untraceable firearms. State Attorney General Eric T. Schneid-
erman has stated that these ghost guns are the next frontier of illegal
firearm trafficking. Currently, there are no federal laws requiring
private individuals to report a weapon they have made, or assembled at
home when the firearm has been produced without the intent to sell.
However, as the evolution of technology continues to progress, legiti-
mate safety concerns need to be remedied.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: referred to codes 2017-18: referred to codes
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2556
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 19, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE, SIMON, GRIFFIN -- Multi-Sponsored by --
M. of A. GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to requiring all firearms
manufactured, crafted or built by private individuals to have an iden-
tifying serial number
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 265.60 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 265.60 Failure to identify a firearm.
4 (1) Firearms manufactured, crafted, assembled or built by private
5 individuals shall have an identifying serial number engraved, casted,
6 stamped (impressing), or otherwise conspicuously placed on the frame or
7 receiver of the firearm. The serial number must be placed in a manner
8 not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered, or removed, and
9 must not duplicate any serial number placed by the individual on any
10 other firearm.
11 (2) The individual shall submit the firearm's serial number to the
12 department of criminal justice services with the firearm's size and a
13 photograph of the firearm.
14 Failure to identify a firearm is a class C felony.
15 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06603-01-1
