Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/s1038
Timestamp: 2020-07-13 06:37:31
Document Index: 502646880

Matched Legal Cases: ['§270', '§265', '§845', '§ 2', '§ 265', '§  3', '§ 845']

NY State Senate Bill S1038
senate Bill S1038
Relates to the restriction of the sale of ammunition to only individuals authorized to possess such weapon; repealer
Get Status Alerts for S1038
Jan 10, 2019 referred to codes
S1038 (ACTIVE) - Details
Rpld §270.00 sub 5, add §265.18, Pen L; add §845-c, Exec L
S1038 (ACTIVE) - Summary
Relates to the restriction of the sale of ammunition to only individuals authorized to possess such weapon; creates the no-gun database under the division of criminal justice services.
S1038 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S1038              Revised 01/18/19
The purpose of the bill is to prevent the purchase of firearm ammunition
by individuals not allowed to own or possess the weapon for which the
ammo is used for, pursuant to state and local law.
Section 1 of the bill repeals Subdivision 5 of section 270.00 of the
penal. law.
Section 2 amends the penal law by adding new section 265.18, which
creates the crime of criminal sale of firearm ammunition. It will be
against the law to sell firearm ammunition to a person not authorized to
possess the firearm capable of firing such ammunition.
Section 3 amends the executive law by adding a new section 845-c, which
mandates the establishment of a no-gun database, which shall contain the
names, dates of birth, and any other identifying information the divi-
sion deems appropriate of any persons not authorized pursuant to law to
possess a firearm. Any person selling firearm ammunition within the
state will be permitted to cross-reference the database with the poten-
tial buyer of ammunition's identifying information.
Section 4 addresses the effective date.
The bill aims to prevent ammunition sales to persons not authorized to
possess certain weapons. Regulating ammunition is often overlooked as an
aspect of gun safety policy. Guns without bullets are nothing more than
blunt instruments. Currently, NYS law prohibits selling handgun ammuni-
tion to persons without pistol permits. However, the law does not
prohibit the purchase of rifle or shotgun rounds by "unauthorized
persons." In NYC, despite requiring permits for shotgun and rifle owner-
ship, those without the permits can purchase shotgun and rifle ammo
uninhibited. This bill would be similar to the restrictions placed on
handgun ammunition purchases, in that if you are authorized to own the
weapon, you may purchase its corresponding ammunition.  Most parts of
the state outside of NYC have no restrictions on who can own/purchase
shotguns and rifles, so by default, anyone not explicitly prohibited
from owning a firearm can purchase the firearm and corresponding ammuni-
The bill would also direct DCJS to assemble a master database of all
people in the state whom have had their firearms seized or their rights
to possess a firearm suspended. This database would then be made acces-
sible for a cursory search by ammunition sellers, in order to ensure
only authorized individuals are purchasing the ammunition.  If you are
not allowed to possess a firearm, you will not be able to purchase ammu-
nition. Only people who are authorized to own/possess weapons, pursuant
to state and local laws, should be able to purchase the ammunition for
A recent article found some conclusions that have real implications for
New York State. The article examined firearm laws in certain states, and
tried to determine whether the specified laws were influencing the over-
all firearm mortality rate in each state. The study also tested whether
certain laws, if implemented, would affect the rate of firearm mortal-
ity. The researchers concluded that if New York were to implement a form
of background check for ammunition, the predicted firearm mortality risk
for New Yorkers would drop by over 80%. It is clear that this legis-
lation has the potential to save many lives.
2017/2018: Referred to Codes
division of criminal justice services shall promulgate rules and regu-
lations as it deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, on
S1038 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
sale  of ammunition; and to repeal certain provisions of the penal law
Section  1.  Subdivision  5  of  section  270.00  of  the penal law is
§ 2. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 265.18  to  read
§ 265.18 CRIMINAL SALE OF FIREARM AMMUNITION.
A  PERSON  IS  GUILTY OF CRIMINAL SALE OF FIREARM AMMUNITION WHEN SUCH
PERSON SELLS ANY FIREARM AMMUNITION TO A PERSON NOT AUTHORIZED  PURSUANT
TO LAW TO POSSESS A FIREARM CAPABLE OF FIRING SUCH AMMUNITION.
CRIMINAL SALE OF FIREARM AMMUNITION IS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR.
§  3.  The  executive  law is amended by adding a new section 845-c to
§ 845-C. NO-GUN DATABASE. 1. THE DIVISION SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN
A NO-GUN DATABASE WHICH SHALL CONTAIN THE NAMES, DATES OF BIRTH, AND ANY
OTHER IDENTIFYING INFORMATION THE  DIVISION  DEEMS  APPROPRIATE  OF  ANY
PERSONS NOT AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO LAW TO POSSESS A FIREARM.
2.  THE  DIVISION  SHALL  ALLOW  FOR  ANY  PERSON SELLING A FIREARM OR
FIREARM AMMUNITION WITHIN THE STATE TO CHECK THE NO-GUN DATABASE FOR THE
BUYER OF SUCH FIREARM OR FIREARM AMMUNITION.
the division of criminal justice services  shall  promulgate  rules  and
regulations  as  it  deems  necessary to effectuate the purposes of this
act, on or before such effective date.
LBD00868-01-9