Bill Text: NY A00212 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to allowing the possession and sale of electronic dart guns and electronic stun guns for self-defense; adds such weapons in the definition of obstructing governmental administration by means of a self-defense spray device.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - referred to codes [A00212 Detail]
Download: New_York-2023-A00212-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 212 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 4, 2023 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. SAYEGH, GLICK, DICKENS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to electronic dart guns and electronic stun guns The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal law is amended 2 by adding two new paragraphs 17 and 18 to read as follows: 3 17. Possession in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph of 4 an electronic dart gun or an electronic stun gun, as those terms are 5 defined in section 265.00 of this article, for the protection of a 6 person or property on real estate that such person owns or leases, or 7 where such person resides, or within the confines of a business estab- 8 lishment that such person owns or leases, and use of such electronic 9 dart gun or electronic stun gun under circumstances which would justify 10 the use of physical force pursuant to article thirty-five of this chap- 11 ter. 12 (a) The exemption provided for under this paragraph shall not apply to 13 a person who: (i) is less than eighteen years of age; (ii) has been 14 previously convicted in this state of a felony or any assault; or (iii) 15 has been convicted of a crime outside the state of New York which if 16 committed in New York would constitute a felony or any assault crime. 17 (b) The department of health, with the cooperation of the division of 18 criminal justice services and the superintendent of state police, shall 19 develop standards and promulgate regulations regarding the type of elec- 20 tronic dart gun or electronic stun gun which may lawfully be purchased, 21 possessed and used pursuant to this paragraph. Such regulations shall 22 include a maximum allowable delivered charge for such devices, and a 23 requirement that every electronic dart gun or electronic stun gun which 24 may be lawfully purchased, possessed or used pursuant to this paragraph EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD01672-01-3A. 212 2 1 have a label which states: "WARNING: the use of this device for any 2 purpose other than self-defense is a criminal offense under the law. 3 This device shall not be sold by another person, other than a licensed 4 or authorized dealer. Possession of this device by any person under the 5 age of eighteen or by anyone who has been convicted of a felony or 6 assault is illegal. Violators may be prosecuted under the law." 7 18. Possession and sale of an electronic dart gun or electronic stun 8 gun as defined in section 265.00 of this article, by a dealer in 9 firearms licensed pursuant to section 400.00 of this chapter, or by any 10 other vendor as may be authorized and approved by the superintendent of 11 state police. 12 (a) Every electronic dart gun or electronic stun gun shall be accompa- 13 nied by an insert or inserts which include directions for use, first aid 14 information, safety and storage information and which shall also contain 15 a toll free telephone number for the purpose of allowing any purchaser 16 to call and receive additional information regarding the availability of 17 local courses in self-defense training and safety in the use of an elec- 18 tronic dart gun or electronic stun gun. 19 (b) Before delivering an electronic dart gun or electronic stun gun to 20 any person, the licensed or authorized dealer shall require proof of age 21 and a sworn statement on a form approved by the superintendent of state 22 police that such person has not been convicted of a felony or any crime 23 involving an assault. Such forms shall be forwarded to the division of 24 state police at such intervals as directed by the superintendent of 25 state police. Absent any such direction the forms shall be maintained on 26 the premises of the vendor and shall be open at all reasonable hours for 27 inspection by any peace officer or police officer, acting pursuant to 28 his or her special duties. No more than two of any combination of elec- 29 tronic dart guns or electronic stun guns may be sold at any one time to 30 a single purchaser. 31 § 2. Section 195.08 of the penal law, as added by chapter 354 of the 32 laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows: 33 § 195.08 Obstructing governmental administration by means of a self-de- 34 fense spray device, electronic dart gun, or electronic stun 35 gun. 36 A person is guilty of obstructing governmental administration by means 37 of a self-defense spray device, electronic dart gun, or electronic stun 38 gun when, with the intent to prevent a police officer or peace officer 39 from performing a lawful duty, he causes temporary physical impairment 40 to a police officer or peace officer by intentionally discharging a 41 self-defense spray device, as defined in paragraph fourteen of subdivi- 42 sion a of section 265.20 of this chapter, or an electronic dart gun or 43 electronic stun gun, as defined in section 265.00 of this chapter, 44 thereby causing such temporary physical impairment. 45 Obstructing governmental administration by means of a self-defense 46 spray device, electronic dart gun, or electronic stun gun is a class D 47 felony. 48 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
