Bill Text: NY S07132 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the class A misdemeanor of unlawful procurement of a firearm, for the purchase or acquisition of more than 1 firearm during any period of 30 days; implements a 10-day waiting period.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-04-30 - REFERRED TO CODES [S07132 Detail]
Download: New_York-2013-S07132-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 7132 I N S E N A T E April 30, 2014 ___________ Introduced by Sen. GIANARIS -- 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 the unlawful procurement of a firearm; to amend the general business law, in relation to estab- lishing a waiting period for the purchase of a firearm; and to amend the penal law, in relation to requiring licensed firearms businesses to report the crime of criminal purchase of a weapon and requiring background checks for employees who would be authorized to possess or transfer firearms 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 265.50 to 2 read as follows: 3 S 265.50 UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF A FIREARM. 4 A PERSON IS GUILTY OF UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF A FIREARM WHEN: 5 1. HE OR SHE PURCHASES OR TAKES POSSESSION OF MORE THAN ONE FIREARM 6 FROM ANY DEALER IN FIREARMS DURING ANY THIRTY DAY PERIOD; OR 7 2. BEING A DEALER IN FIREARMS, HE OR SHE SELLS OR TRANSFERS A FIREARM 8 TO ANY PERSON WHO HAS PURCHASED OR TAKEN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM DURING 9 THE PREVIOUS THIRTY DAYS. 10 UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF A FIREARM IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. 11 S 2. Section 265.20 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi- 12 vision f to read as follows: 13 F. SECTION 265.50 OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT APPLY TO: 14 1. ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CORRECTIONS AGENCY, OR POLICE OR CORRECTIONS 15 OFFICER ACTING WITHIN THE COURSE AND SCOPE OF HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT OR 16 OFFICIAL DUTIES; 17 2. A UNITED STATES MARSHAL, MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED 18 STATES OR THE NATIONAL GUARD, OR A FEDERAL OFFICIAL, WHO IS REQUIRED TO 19 POSSESS A FIREARM IN THE OPERATION OF HIS OR HER OFFICIAL DUTIES; 20 3. LICENSED FIREARMS MANUFACTURERS, IMPORTERS OR DEALERS, WHILE 21 ENGAGED IN THE COURSE AND SCOPE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES AS LICENSEES, 22 PROVIDED THAT THE TRANSFERS ARE BETWEEN LICENSEES AND ALL SUCH LICENSEES 23 ARE PROPERLY LICENSED UNDER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAW; EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14828-01-4 S. 7132 2 1 4. A GUNSMITH ACQUIRING FIREARMS SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF SERVICE OR 2 REPAIR, OR THE LAWFUL OWNER OF THE FIREARMS RETRIEVING THE FIREARMS BACK 3 FROM SUCH A GUNSMITH; 4 5. A COMMON CARRIER, WAREHOUSEMAN OR OTHER PERSON ENGAGED IN THE BUSI- 5 NESS OF TRANSPORTING OR STORING GOODS, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE POSSESSION 6 OR RECEIPT OF ANY FIREARM IS IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS, AND NOT 7 FOR THE PERSONAL USE OF ANY SUCH PERSON; 8 6. A PERSON ACQUIRING FIREARMS BY OPERATION OF LAW UPON THE DEATH OF 9 THE FORMER OWNER OF THE FIREARMS; OR 10 7. A PERSON WHOSE FIREARM WAS STOLEN OR IRRETRIEVABLY LOST AND WHO 11 CONSIDERS IT ESSENTIAL THAT THE FIREARM BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, IF: 12 (A) THE PERSON PROVIDES THE SELLER OR TRANSFEROR WITH A COPY OF AN 13 OFFICIAL POLICE REPORT DESCRIBING THE LOSS OR THEFT OF THE FIREARM. THE 14 OFFICIAL POLICE REPORT MUST CONTAIN THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE FIREARM 15 OWNER, A DESCRIPTION OF THE FIREARM, THE LOCATION OF THE LOSS OR THEFT, 16 THE DATE OF THE LOSS OR THEFT, AND THE DATE THE LOSS OR THEFT WAS 17 REPORTED TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY; AND 18 (B) THE LOSS OR THEFT OCCURRED WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE PERSON'S 19 ATTEMPT TO REPLACE THE FIREARM, AS REFLECTED BY THE DATE OF LOSS OR 20 THEFT ON THE OFFICIAL POLICE REPORT. 21 S 3. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 400.15 to read 22 as follows: 23 S 400.15 DUTIES OF DEALERS IN FIREARMS. 24 1. EACH DEALER IN FIREARMS SHALL PRIOR TO THE SALE OF ANY FIREARM TO A 25 PERSON REQUEST APPROVAL OF SUCH SALE TO SUCH PERSON FROM THE DIVISION OF 26 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES. 27 2. UPON RECEIPT OF THE APPROVAL OF THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE 28 SERVICES OF A SALE OF A FIREARM, THE DEALER IN FIREARMS SHALL RECORD AND 29 REPORT SUCH SALE TO THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES WITHIN 30 TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. 31 S 4. The general business law is amended by adding a new article 38-B 32 to read as follows: 33 ARTICLE 38-B 34 WAITING PERIOD FOR PURCHASE OF 35 FIREARMS 36 SECTION 825. DEFINITIONS. 37 826. WAITING PERIOD. 38 827. EXEMPTIONS. 39 828. PENALTY. 40 S 825. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS SECTION: 41 1. "DEALER IN FIREARMS" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED 42 IN SUBDIVISION NINE OF SECTION 265.00 OF THE PENAL LAW. 43 2. "FIREARM" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SUBDIVI- 44 SION THREE OF SECTION 265.00 OF THE PENAL LAW. 45 S 826. WAITING PERIOD. NO DEALER IN FIREARMS SHALL DELIVER ANY 46 FIREARM, AND NO PERSON SHALL TAKE POSSESSION OF ANY FIREARM FROM A DEAL- 47 ER IN FIREARMS UNLESS: 48 1. TEN DAYS HAVE ELAPSED FROM THE DATE SUCH DEALER INITIATED THE 49 NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK OF THE PURCHASER AS REQUIRED 50 BY 18 U.S.C. S 922(T), AFTER RECEIVING A COMPLETED FEDERAL FIREARMS 51 TRANSACTION RECORD, FORM 4473, FROM THE PURCHASER; AND 52 2. SUCH DEALER HAS RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE PURCHASER HAS PASSED ALL 53 BACKGROUND CHECKS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAW. 54 S 827. EXEMPTIONS. SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX OF THIS ARTICLE 55 SHALL NOT APPLY TO: S. 7132 3 1 1. ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CORRECTIONAL AGENCY, OR POLICE OFFICER OR 2 CORRECTIONS OFFICER ACTING WITHIN THE COURSE OR SCOPE OF HIS OR HER 3 EMPLOYMENT; 4 2. ANY FEDERAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE AUTHORIZED TO POSSESS OR CARRY A 5 FIREARM IN THE COURSE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES, AND ANY MEMBER OF THE ARMED 6 FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE NATIONAL GUARD; 7 3. ANY MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR OR DEALER OF FIREARMS WHEN TRANS- 8 FERRING WEAPONS TO A MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR OR DEALER; 9 4. ANY GUNSMITH LICENSED PURSUANT TO SECTION 400.00 OF THE PENAL LAW, 10 RECEIVING A FIREARM FOR SERVICE OR REPAIR; 11 5. ANY COMMON CARRIER OR OTHER PERSON ENGAGED, IN THE COURSE OF ITS 12 BUSINESS, IN THE BUSINESS OF STORING OR TRANSPORTING GOODS; AND 13 6. ANY PERSON WHO ALREADY POSSESSES A VALID PERMIT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 14 FOUR HUNDRED OF THE PENAL LAW. 15 S 828. PENALTY. ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE 16 SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. 17 S 5. Section 265.17 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 1 of the 18 laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows: 19 S 265.17 Criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon. 20 1. A person is guilty of criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon 21 when: 22 [1.] (A) Knowing that he or she is prohibited by law from possessing a 23 firearm, rifle or shotgun because of a prior conviction or because of 24 some other disability which would render him or her ineligible to 25 lawfully possess a firearm, rifle or shotgun in this state, such person 26 purchases a firearm, rifle or shotgun from another person; or 27 [2.] (B) Knowing that it would be unlawful for another person to 28 possess a firearm, rifle or shotgun, he or she purchases a firearm, 29 rifle or shotgun for, on behalf of, or for the use of such other person; 30 or 31 [3.] (C) Knowing that another person is prohibited by law from 32 possessing a firearm, rifle or shotgun because of a prior conviction or 33 because of some other disability which would render him or her ineligi- 34 ble to lawfully possess a firearm, rifle or shotgun in this state, a 35 person disposes of a firearm, rifle or shotgun to such other person. 36 2. A GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN FIREARMS SHALL REPORT WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR 37 HOURS TO THE DIVISION OF STATE POLICE, OR IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK THE 38 POLICE DEPARTMENT OF SUCH CITY, ANY INSTANCE IN WHICH ANY PERSON 39 ATTEMPTS TO PURCHASE A FIREARM, RIFLE OR SHOTGUN FROM SUCH GUNSMITH OR 40 DEALER IF A BACKGROUND CHECK SUCH GUNSMITH OR DEALER CONDUCTS IN 41 CONNECTION WITH SUCH ATTEMPTED PURCHASE, IN THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMI- 42 NAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM OR ANY SUCCESSOR SYSTEM, INDICATES A 43 "DENIED" RESPONSE AS DEFINED IN 28 C.F.R. S 25.6. SUCH GUNSMITH OR DEAL- 44 ER SHALL KEEP WITH THE OTHER RECORDS REQUIRED UNDER SUBDIVISION TWELVE 45 OF SECTION 400.00 OF THIS CHAPTER, A RECORD APPROVED AS TO FORM BY THE 46 SUPERINTENDENT OF STATE POLICE, OR IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK BY SUCH 47 CITY'S POLICE COMMISSIONER, OF HAVING MADE EACH REPORT REQUIRED BY THIS 48 SUBDIVISION. 49 Criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon is a class D felony. 50 S 6. Section 400.00 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi- 51 vision 12-b to read as follows: 52 12-B. EMPLOYEES OF A GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN FIREARMS. (A) NO PERSON 53 SHALL BE EMPLOYED BY A GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN FIREARMS FOR DUTIES THAT 54 INCLUDE HANDLING, SELLING, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSING OF FIREARMS, IF SUCH 55 PERSON IS PROHIBITED FROM RECEIVING OR POSSESSING FIREARMS UNDER FEDERAL S. 7132 4 1 LAW OR IF SUCH PERSON WOULD BE INELIGIBLE FOR A LICENSE TO POSSESS 2 FIREARMS UNDER PARAGRAPH (C) OR (E) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION. 3 (B) NO GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN FIREARMS SHALL EMPLOY A PERSON WHOSE 4 DUTIES INCLUDE HANDLING, SELLING, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSING OF FIREARMS, 5 ABSENT AN EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPHS ONE AND TWO OF SUBDIVISION A 6 OF SECTION 265.20 OF THIS CHAPTER, UNLESS: (I) SUCH PERSON IS TWENTY-ONE 7 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER OR IS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES 8 OR HAS BEEN HONORABLY DISCHARGED THEREFROM, AND SUCH EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN 9 ISSUED A VALID EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE FROM THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL 10 JUSTICE SERVICES; OR (II) SUCH PERSON HAS OBTAINED AND POSSESSES A VALID 11 LICENSE ISSUED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION OR SECTION 400.01 OF 12 THIS ARTICLE. 13 (C) APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES SHALL BE SUBMITTED BY THE 14 APPLICANT'S PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER TO THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE 15 SERVICES IN A FORM APPROVED BY SUCH DIVISION. APPLICATIONS MUST CONTAIN, 16 AT A MINIMUM, THE INFORMATION REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A BACKGROUND CHECK IN 17 THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM. ALL APPLICATIONS 18 MUST BE SIGNED AND VERIFIED BY THE APPLICANT. 19 (D) UPON RECEIPT OF AN APPLICATION FOR AN EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE, THE 20 DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES SHALL CONDUCT A BACKGROUND CHECK 21 IN THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM TO DETERMINE 22 WHETHER THE APPLICANT IS QUALIFIED TO RECEIVE OR POSSESS A FIREARM UNDER 23 STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. IF THE RESULTS OF THE BACKGROUND CHECK INDICATE 24 THAT THERE IS NO INFORMATION THAT WOULD DISQUALIFY THE APPLICANT FROM 25 RECEIVING OR POSSESSING A FIREARM UNDER STATE OR UNDER FEDERAL LAW, THE 26 DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES SHALL DOCUMENT SUCH RESULT ON AN 27 EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE. IF THE BACKGROUND CHECK RESULTS IN A "DELAYED" 28 RESPONSE AS DESCRIBED IN 28 C.F.R. S 25.6, THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL 29 JUSTICE SERVICES SHALL NOT CERTIFY THE APPLICANT FOR EMPLOYMENT PENDING 30 RECEIPT OF A FOLLOW-UP "PROCEED" RESPONSE FROM THE NATIONAL INSTANT 31 CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM. 32 (E) THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES SHALL ISSUE TO QUALIFY- 33 ING EMPLOYEES AN EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE, WHICH SHALL CERTIFY THAT THE 34 HOLDER OF SUCH CERTIFICATE IS ELIGIBLE TO HANDLE, SELL, OR OTHERWISE 35 DISPOSE OF FIREARMS OR WEAPONS ON BEHALF OF THE GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN 36 FIREARMS. SUCH CERTIFICATE SHALL BECOME INVALID UPON THE TERMINATION OF 37 THE EMPLOYEE'S EMPLOYMENT. SUCH CERTIFICATE SHALL HAVE THE EFFECT OF 38 AUTHORIZING SUCH EMPLOYEE TO HANDLE, SELL, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF THOSE 39 FIREARMS THAT ARE LAWFULLY POSSESSED, SOLD OR DISPOSED OF BY THE 40 GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN FIREARMS ONLY WHILE SUCH EMPLOYEE IS ACTUALLY 41 CONDUCTING BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF THE GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN FIREARMS 42 NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT SUCH WEAPONS MAY NOT BE THE TYPE THE 43 EMPLOYEE WOULD OTHERWISE BE LICENSED OR AUTHORIZED TO POSSESS UNDER NEW 44 YORK LAW. WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS CONDUCTING BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF A 45 GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN FIREARMS AT ANY LOCATION OTHER THAN THE PREMISES 46 WHERE SUCH EMPLOYEE WORKS, THE EMPLOYEE SHALL HAVE IN HIS OR HER 47 POSSESSION A COPY OF HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE OR VALID LICENSE 48 ISSUED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION OR SECTION 400.01 OF THIS 49 ARTICLE OR DOCUMENTATION OF THE EMPLOYEE'S EXEMPTION BASED ON PRIOR 50 EMPLOYMENT. COPIES OF SUCH CERTIFICATES OR LICENSES OR DOCUMENTATION OF 51 EXEMPTION SHALL BE MAINTAINED BY THE GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN FIREARMS ON 52 THE PREMISES WHERE SUCH EMPLOYEE WORKS. ALL CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, 53 DOCUMENTATION AND COPIES REFERRED TO IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE PRODUCED 54 UPON REQUEST BY ANY POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER ACTING PURSUANT TO 55 HIS OR HER SPECIAL DUTIES. S. 7132 5 1 (F) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM HANDLING SHALL NOT 2 INCLUDE MOVING OR CARRYING, IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS, A SECURED 3 CRATE OR CONTAINER THAT CONTAINS A FIREARM OR FIREARMS, FROM ONE 4 LOCATION TO ANOTHER WITHIN THE PREMISES OF A GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN 5 FIREARMS. 6 (G) ANY EMPLOYMENT IN VIOLATION OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL CONSTITUTE A 7 VIOLATION ON THE PART OF BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AND THE GUNSMITH OR DEALER IN 8 FIREARMS. 9 S 7. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 10 it shall have become a law, except that the division of criminal justice 11 services shall promulgate any rules or regulations or approve any forms 12 necessary for applications for employment certificates to be submitted 13 to and approved by such division and for employment certificates to be 14 issued by such division pursuant to subdivision 12-b of section 400.00 15 of the penal law as added by section six of this act, and shall begin to 16 issue such certificates to qualifying employees before the one hundred 17 eightieth day after this act shall have become a law.