Bans the sale, use or possession of 50-caliber or larger weapons and directs the division of state police to embark on a program whereby persons currently in lawful possession of such weapons may be reimbursed for the fair market value thereof upon turning such weapons in to a designated officer.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2772A
SPONSOR: Eddington (MS) TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the penal law and the executive law,
in relation to banning the sale, possession or use of 50-caliber weapons
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To ban the possession, sale and use
of 50-caliber weapons in the state of New York, to impose additional
penalties for the use of a 50-caliber weapon while committing certain
felonies and to implement procedures for public compliance with this
statute.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 Legislative findings and
declaration
Sections 2-3 Definitions
Sections 4-19 Crimes of possession, use, display or transport of 50-cal-
iber weapon
Sections 20-21 Exceptions to felony classifications
Section 22 Compliance provisions
Section 23 Effective date
JUSTIFICATION: The 50-caliber weapon is one of the most dangerous
weapons in the U.S. military's arsenal. These weapons are used for long-
range tactical assassinations and assaults in the U.S. Military. These
deadly weapons are accurate for up to 2000 yards (20 football fields),
or over one mile.
Although these powerful anti-personal weapons were designed for military
purposes, these weapons have appeared in the civilian market. These
weapons of war are readily available on the Internet and in gun stores.
Records obtained by the BATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms)
indicated that the largest manufacturer, the Barrett Company, manufac-
tured and sold over 2,800 50-caliber rifles between 1987-1998. Investi-
gators found that some of these weapons ended up in the hands of domes-
tic and international terrorist organizations, religious cults,
international drug traffickers, and violent criminals. These weapons
serve absolutely no legitimate non-military purpose.
The 50-caliber bullets from these military weapons travel at a tremen-
dous velocity and can travel great distance even after passing through a
target. A prudent target shooter aiming at a wooden target should be
certain that no one is within a distance of 2 miles beyond that target.
On April 28, 1999, the United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper Schools
invited the Democratic minority staff to its training facility in Quan-
tico, Virginia, to see a demonstration of the fifty caliber weapon.
During the demonstration, the Marine instructors discussed the destruc-
tive power of several fifty-caliber rounds.
They showed how an armor piercing round penetrated one inch thick rolled
homogeneous armor found on armored vehicles throughout the world, a
three and a half inch thick steel manhole cover, a two inch thick steel
track from a tractor, a piece of three quarter inch bullet-resistant
glass, and four cinder blocks with three quarter inch walls laid end to
end. Finally, a Marine shooter fired multiple shots in rapid succession
completely through a six-hundred pound safe. Congressman Henry Waxman
According to a report by the Violence Policy Center, Al Qaeda, Osama bin
Laden's terrorist organization, purchased at least twenty-five 50-cali-
ber weapons from a U.S. manufacturer. This fact came to light at the
trial of terrorists convicted of the American embassy bombings in Afri-
ca. Al Qaeda also purchased range finders, night vision scopes and night
goggles which the manufacturer boasts will make the weapon "even more
effective under cover of darkness."
This bill will ban the possession, sale and use of 50-caliber weapons in
order to protect our citizens and our law enforcement personnel who risk
their lives to keep us safe.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2005-2006: A.4471-A - passed Assembly
2004: A7039a - passed Assembly
EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2772--A
Cal. No. 250
2007-2008 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 19, 2007
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EDDINGTON, BING, LIFTON, BRADLEY, RAMOS, ALESSI,
KAVANAGH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CARROZZA, CLARK, R. DIAZ,
DINOWITZ, ENGLEBRIGHT, GLICK, GOTTFRIED, HOYT, JOHN, KOON, ORTIZ,
PAULIN, PEOPLES, PERRY, PHEFFER, SCARBOROUGH, WEINSTEIN, WEISENBERG --
read once and referred to the Committee on Codes -- reported from
committee, advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted,
retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the penal law and the executive law, in relation to
banning the sale, possession or use of 50-caliber weapons
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings and declaration. The legislature here-
2 by finds and declares that 50-caliber or larger weapons having the
3 capacity for rapidly discharging ammunition have no acceptable purpose.
4 The legislature additionally finds and declares that such weapons pose
5 such an imminent threat and danger to the safety and security of the
6 people of this state that it is necessary to ban the possession and use
7 of such weapons.
8 § 2. Subdivisions 8 and 9 of section 265.00 of the penal law, as
9 amended by chapter 189 of the laws of 2000, are amended to read as
10 follows:
11 8. "Gunsmith" means any person, firm, partnership, corporation or
12 company who engages in the business of repairing, altering, assembling,
13 manufacturing, cleaning, polishing, engraving or trueing, or who
14 performs any mechanical operation on, any firearm, large capacity ammu-
15 nition feeding device, 50-caliber weapon or machine-gun.
16 9. "Dealer in firearms" means any person, firm, partnership, corpo-
17 ration or company who engages in the business of purchasing, selling,
18 keeping for sale, loaning, leasing, or in any manner disposing of, any
19 assault weapon, large capacity ammunition feeding device, 50-caliber
20 weapon, pistol or revolver.
21 § 3. Section 265.00 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi-
22 vision 24 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05491-04-8
A. 2772--A 2
1 24. "50-caliber weapon" means a rifle capable of firing a center-fire
2 cartridge in 50-caliber or larger, .50 BMG caliber or larger, any other
3 variant of 50-caliber or larger, or any other metric equivalent of such
4 caliber, provided, however, that nothing in this subdivision shall be
5 construed to include any muzzle loading rifle which is designed to use
6 black powder, or a black powder substitute, and which cannot use fixed
7 ammunition.
8 § 4. Subdivision 3 of section 265.02 of the penal law, as amended by
9 chapter 764 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
10 (3) Such person knowingly possesses a machine-gun, a 50-caliber weap-
11 on, firearm, rifle or shotgun which has been defaced for the purpose of
12 concealment or prevention of the detection of a crime or misrepresenting
13 the identity of such machine-gun, 50-caliber weapon, firearm, rifle or
14 shotgun; or
15 § 5. Section 265.02 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi-
16 vision 4 to read as follows:
17 (4) Such person possesses any 50-caliber weapon; or
18 § 6. Section 265.03 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 742 of the
19 laws of 2006 and subdivisions 1 and 3 as amended by chapter 745 of the
20 laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
21 § 265.03 Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
22 A person is guilty of criminal possession of a weapon in the second
23 degree when such person:
24 (1) [with intent to use the same unlawfully against another, such
25 person:
26 (a)] possesses a machine-gun; or
27 [(b)] (2) possesses a 50-caliber weapon or a loaded firearm with
28 intent to use the same unlawfully against another; or
29 [(c)] (3) possesses a disguised gun with intent to use the same unlaw-
30 fully against another; or
31 [(2) such person] (4) possesses five or more firearms; or
32 [(3)] (5) such person possesses any loaded firearm. Such possession
33 shall not, except as provided in subdivision one or seven of section
34 265.02 of this article, constitute a violation of this subdivision if
35 such possession takes place in such person's home or place of business.
36 Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree is a class C
37 felony.
38 § 7. The penal law is amended by adding two new sections 265.45 and
39 265.46 to read as follows:
40 § 265.45 Criminal use of a 50-caliber weapon in the second degree.
41 1. A person is guilty of criminal use of a 50-caliber weapon in the
42 second degree when he commits any class C violent felony offense as
43 defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section 70.02 of this
44 chapter and he uses a 50-caliber weapon, as defined in subdivision twen-
45 ty-four of section 265.00 of this article, if the 50-caliber weapon is a
46 loaded 50-caliber weapon from which a shot, readily capable of producing
47 death or other serious injury may be discharged.
48 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, when a
49 person is convicted of criminal use of a 50-caliber weapon in the second
50 degree as defined in subdivision one of this section the court shall
51 impose an additional consecutive term of five years to the minimum term
52 of the indeterminate sentence or term of the determinate sentence
53 imposed on the underlying class C violent felony conviction. Notwith-
54 standing any other provision of law to the contrary, the aggregate of
55 the five year consecutive term imposed pursuant to this subdivision and
56 the minimum term of an indeterminate sentence imposed on the underlying
A. 2772--A 3
1 class C violent felony conviction shall constitute the new aggregate
2 minimum term of imprisonment, and a defendant subject to such term shall
3 be required to serve the entire aggregate minimum term and shall not be
4 eligible for release on parole or other discretionary release during
5 such term.
6 § 265.46 Criminal use of a 50-caliber weapon in the first degree.
7 1. A person is guilty of criminal use of a 50-caliber weapon in the
8 first degree when he commits any class A felony offense constituting
9 murder, kidnapping, arson, conspiracy or sale of a controlled substance
10 or attempts to commit any such class A felony where such attempt also
11 constitutes a class A felony, or any class B violent felony offense as
12 defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision one of section 70.02 of this
13 chapter and he uses a 50-caliber weapon, as defined in subdivision twen-
14 ty-four of section 265.00 of this article, if the 50-caliber weapon is a
15 loaded 50-caliber weapon from which a shot, readily capable of producing
16 death or other serious injury may be discharged.
17 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, when a
18 person is convicted of criminal use of a 50-caliber weapon in the first
19 degree as defined in subdivision one of this section the court shall
20 impose an additional consecutive term of ten years to the minimum term
21 of the indeterminate sentence or term of the determinate sentence
22 imposed on the underlying class A or class B violent felony conviction.
23 Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the aggre-
24 gate of the ten year consecutive term imposed pursuant to this subdivi-
25 sion and the minimum term of an indeterminate sentence imposed on the
26 underlying class A or class B violent felony conviction shall constitute
27 the new aggregate minimum term of imprisonment, and a defendant subject
28 to such term shall be required to serve the entire aggregate minimum
29 term and shall not be eligible for release on parole or other discre-
30 tionary release during such term.
31 § 8. Subdivision 2 of section 265.08 of the penal law, as added by
32 chapter 233 of the laws of 1980, is amended to read as follows:
33 (2) displays what appears to be a pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun,
34 50-caliber weapon, machine gun or other firearm.
35 § 9. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 265.09 of the penal
36 law, as amended by chapter 650 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read
37 as follows:
38 (b) displays what appears to be a pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun,
39 50-caliber weapon, machine gun or other firearm.
40 § 10. Subdivisions 2, 3 and 6 of section 265.10 of the penal law, as
41 amended by chapter 189 of the laws of 2000, are amended to read as
42 follows:
43 2. Any person who transports or ships any machine-gun, 50-caliber
44 weapon, firearm silencer, assault weapon or large capacity ammunition
45 feeding device or disguised gun, or who transports or ships as merchan-
46 dise five or more firearms, is guilty of a class D felony. Any person
47 who transports or ships as merchandise any firearm, other than an
48 assault weapon, switchblade knife, gravity knife, pilum ballistic knife,
49 billy, blackjack, bludgeon, metal knuckles, Kung Fu star, chuka stick,
50 sandbag or slungshot is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
51 3. Any person who disposes of any machine-gun, assault weapon, large
52 capacity ammunition feeding device, 50-caliber weapon or firearm silenc-
53 er is guilty of a class D felony. Any person who knowingly buys,
54 receives, disposes of, or conceals a machine-gun, 50-caliber weapon,
55 firearm, large capacity ammunition feeding device, rifle or shotgun
56 which has been defaced for the purpose of concealment or prevention of
A. 2772--A 4
1 the detection of a crime or misrepresenting the identity of such
2 machine-gun, 50-caliber weapon, firearm, large capacity ammunition feed-
3 ing device, rifle or shotgun is guilty of a class D felony.
4 6. Any person who wilfully defaces any machine-gun, large capacity
5 ammunition feeding device, 50-caliber weapon or firearm is guilty of a
6 class D felony.
7 § 11. Subdivisions 1 and 5 of section 265.15 of the penal law, subdi-
8 vision 5 as amended by chapter 695 of the laws of 1987, are amended to
9 read as follows:
10 1. The presence in any room, dwelling, structure or vehicle of any
11 machine-gun or 50-caliber weapon is presumptive evidence of its unlawful
12 possession by all persons occupying the place where such machine-gun or
13 50-caliber weapon is found.
14 5. The possession by any person of a defaced machine-gun, 50-caliber
15 weapon, firearm, rifle or shotgun is presumptive evidence that such
16 person defaced the same.
17 § 12. Paragraph 2 of subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal law,
18 as amended by chapter 189 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as
19 follows:
20 2. Possession of a machine-gun, large capacity ammunition feeding
21 device, 50-caliber weapon, firearm, switchblade knife, gravity knife,
22 pilum ballistic knife, billy or blackjack by a warden, superintendent,
23 headkeeper or deputy of a state prison, penitentiary, workhouse, county
24 jail or other institution for the detention of persons convicted or
25 accused of crime or detained as witnesses in criminal cases, in pursuit
26 of official duty or when duly authorized by regulation or order to
27 possess the same.
28 § 13. Paragraph 8 of subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal law,
29 as amended by chapter 189 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as
30 follows:
31 8. The manufacturer of machine-guns, assault weapons, large capacity
32 ammunition feeding devices, 50-caliber weapons, disguised guns, pilum
33 ballistic knives, switchblade or gravity knives, billies or blackjacks
34 as merchandise and the disposal and shipment thereof direct to a regu-
35 larly constituted or appointed state or municipal police department,
36 sheriff, policeman or other peace officer, or to a state prison, peni-
37 tentiary, workhouse, county jail or other institution for the detention
38 of persons convicted or accused of crime or held as witnesses in crimi-
39 nal cases, or to the military service of this state or of the United
40 States.
41 § 14. Section 265.20 of the penal law is amended by adding a new
42 subdivision e to read as follows:
43 e. The terms "pistol," "revolver," "rifle," and "shotgun" as used in
44 paragraphs three through five, seven through seven-b, twelve, thirteen
45 and thirteen-a of subdivision a of this section shall not include a
46 50-caliber weapon as defined in subdivision twenty-four of section
47 265.00 of this article.
48 § 15. Section 265.11 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 764 of
49 the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
50 § 265.11 Criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon in the third
51 degree.
52 A person is guilty of criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon
53 in the third degree when such person is not authorized pursuant to law
54 to possess a firearm or 50-caliber weapon and such person unlawfully
55 either:
A. 2772--A 5
1 (1) sells, exchanges, gives or disposes of a firearm [or], large
2 capacity ammunition feeding device or 50-caliber weapon to another
3 person; or
4 (2) possesses a firearm or 50-caliber weapon with the intent to sell
5 it.
6 Criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon in the third degree is
7 a class D felony.
8 § 16. Section 265.12 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 764 of
9 the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
10 § 265.12 Criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon in the second
11 degree.
12 A person is guilty of criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon
13 in the second degree when such person:
14 (1) unlawfully sells, exchanges, gives or disposes of to another five
15 or more firearms or 50-caliber weapons; or
16 (2) unlawfully sells, exchanges, gives or disposes of to another
17 person or persons a total of five or more firearms or 50-caliber weapons
18 in a period of not more than one year.
19 Criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon in the second degree
20 is a class C felony.
21 § 17. Section 265.14 of the penal law, as added by chapter 175 of the
22 laws of 1991 and the closing paragraph as amended by chapter 654 of the
23 laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
24 § 265.14 Criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon with the aid of
25 a minor.
26 A person over the age of eighteen years of age is guilty of criminal
27 sale of a [weapon] firearm or 50-caliber weapon with the aid of a minor
28 when a person under sixteen years of age knowingly and unlawfully sells,
29 exchanges, gives or disposes of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon in
30 violation of this article, and such person over the age of eighteen
31 years of age, acting with the mental culpability required for the
32 commission thereof, solicits, requests, commands, importunes or inten-
33 tionally aids such person under sixteen years of age to engage in such
34 conduct.
35 Criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon with the aid of a
36 minor is a class C felony.
37 § 18. Section 265.13 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 764 of
38 the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
39 § 265.13 Criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon in the first
40 degree.
41 A person is guilty of criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon
42 in the first degree when such person:
43 (1) unlawfully sells, exchanges, gives or disposes of to another ten
44 or more firearms or 50-caliber weapons; or
45 (2) unlawfully sells, exchanges, gives or disposes of to another
46 person or persons a total of ten or more firearms or 50-caliber weapons
47 in a period of not more than one year.
48 Criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon in the first degree is
49 a class B felony.
50 § 19. Section 265.16 of the penal law, as added by chapter 600 of the
51 laws of 1992 and the closing paragraph as amended by chapter 654 of the
52 laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
53 § 265.16 Criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon to a minor.
54 A person is guilty of criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon
55 to a minor when he is not authorized pursuant to law to possess a
56 firearm or 50-caliber weapon and he unlawfully sells, exchanges, gives
A. 2772--A 6
1 or disposes of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon to another person who is
2 or reasonably appears to be less than nineteen years of age who is not
3 licensed pursuant to law to possess a firearm or 50-caliber weapon.
4 Criminal sale of a firearm or 50-caliber weapon to a minor is a class
5 C felony.
6 § 20. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 55.05 of the
7 penal law, as amended by chapter 276 of the laws of 1973, is amended to
8 read as follows:
9 [Felonies] Except for the felonies defined in sections 265.45 and
10 265.46 of this chapter, felonies are classified, for the purpose of
11 sentence, into five categories as follows:
12 § 21. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 55.10 of the penal
13 law, as amended by chapter 276 of the laws of 1973, is amended to read
14 as follows:
15 (a) [The] Except for the felonies defined in sections 265.45 and
16 265.46 of this chapter, the particular classification or subclassifica-
17 tion of each felony defined in this chapter is expressly designated in
18 the section or article defining it.
19 § 22. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 231 to read
20 as follows:
21 § 231. Compliance with the ban on the sale, possession or use of
22 50-caliber weapons. 1. From within amounts appropriated therefor, the
23 division of state police shall take such action as is necessary to
24 implement a program whereby persons, including dealers of firearms, in
25 lawful possession of 50-caliber weapons may bring themselves into
26 compliance with the provisions of the penal law which bans the sale,
27 possession or use of such weapons.
28 2. Within thirty days of the effective date of this section, any
29 licensed firearm dealer who has in his or her possession a new 50-cali-
30 ber weapon shall be entitled to return such weapon to the distributor or
31 manufacturer, and shall be entitled to a full refund, or credit, in an
32 amount equal to the purchase price of such weapon. In any case where a
33 distributor or manufacturer fails or refuses to so refund or credit such
34 dealer, the dealer shall notify the division of state police, and it
35 shall immediately notify the attorney general so that he or she may
36 intercede and take such actions on behalf of the dealer to secure such
37 refund or credit.
38 3. Within thirty days of the effective date of this section, any
39 person, including a licensed firearm dealer, who has in his or her legal
40 possession a used 50-caliber weapon shall personally deliver such weapon
41 to the division of state police, and upon transferring ownership and
42 possession to a duly designated officer thereof, shall be entitled to
43 receive payment in an amount equal to the fair market value of such
44 weapon, but not to exceed eight thousand five hundred dollars.
45 4. The division of state police shall take such action, including a
46 public campaign using the print media, television, radio or other means
47 to notify persons of the existence of the program established in this
48 section.
49 § 23. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
50 sections one through twenty-one of this act shall take effect on the
51 thirtieth day after this act shall have become a law; and provided,
52 further, that those sections of this act which provide that it shall be
53 unlawful to sell, exchange, give or dispose of a 50-caliber weapon shall
54 take effect with respect to a gunsmith or dealer in firearms on the
55 fifth day after this act shall have become a law.
