SCOPE’s 2025-2026 Top Ten
Most Egregious Firearms Legislation
Being Considered in the NYS Legislature

A01290/S06395 – A6024/S01315 – S04790- Imposes excise taxes on the sales of firearms and/or ammunition. Varies from 11% for firearms and/or ammo sales to 2 to 5 cents per projectile. Funds gun violence prevention programs.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. Increases costs of buying firearms, components, and ammunition to put it out of the reach of many citizens. Could add 30% to cost with 11% state, 11% federal, and 8% sales tax.

A02228/S03562 – Requires criminal background check for purchase of 3-D printer capable of creating firearms or components. Prohibits sale of 3-D printer to persons not qualified to obtain a firearm license on the basis of criminal history. Bill definition “"Three-dimensional printer" means a computer or computer-driven machine or device capable of producing a three-dimensional object from a digital model.” This would include virtually any device up to the largest CNC/CAM machine.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. 3D printers produce many things other than firearms. It is bureaucratic and costly in nature and not reasonable to require everyone to go through a background check in order to own a 3D printer. Many machine and tool shops could be        adversely affected because the owner has a past history, even minor, that denies firearm permit.

A03021/S02158 – Requires the division of criminal justice services to establish and maintain a database relating to the sale or use of micro stamped guns in NY.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. This is complete registration of firearms. Under 2014’s Crime Gun Identification Act, NYS spent $25 million to find out it wasn’t effective.

A03233/S00362 – A01210 – Establishes a ten (10) day waiting period from receiving a “proceed” from the New York State National Instant Background Check System (NYS NICS) before a firearm, shotgun or rifle may be delivered to a person.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. Arbitrary. Delays or denies (if no response) receipt of a firearm.  Currently, immediate receipt after NICS approval or three (3) days if no NICS response.      Alert: this previously passed Senate June 2025.

A04085/S00658 – A00360/S03981 - S04790 – These bills include requiring persons possessing any firearm to hold a firearms safety certificate, establishes application and training processes which is only good for 2 years and entire process must be repeated for renewal. Require drug and/or mental health verification for each purchase, receipts for qualified safe storage devices, 5 hour training course (doesn’t indicate existing 18 hour course applies), 90% accuracy in live fire portion, and other restrictions.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. Increases the cost, time, and complexity of purchasing any firearm. Recurring costs and overburdening bureaucracy put exercising basic 2nd Amendment rights out of reach. Assembly member Jackson stated in the memo to this bill “Perhaps making the process a tad bit more detailed and lengthier may also assist in discouraging purchases”

A05611/S05974 – A03376 – A07186– Requires owners of firearms to obtain liability insurance. Amounts range from one million dollars to amounts as determined by the superintendent of financial service.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. Increased cost of buying a firearm puts it out of the reach of  many citizens. Liability insurance does not cover illegal acts and criminals don’t buy insurance.  Firearm liability insurance is difficult to buy in NYS.

A05817/S6787 – Enhances sentences for offenses near school grounds and extends that range to 5000 feet beyond school grounds.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. Gun Free zones don’t work.  Extending that range to almost a mile is objectionable; that range could make many legal gun owners into criminals without moving any closer to a school.  Innocent people have been charged inappropriately with possession in their own home merely by living close to a school. 

A08853/S04277 – Bans .50 caliber or greater weapons with limited exceptions. Does not clearly make a distinction of smooth-bore shotguns.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. There is no record of a .50 caliber center-fire rifle being used in crime, other than the crime of possession. Of shotguns, only the .410 is smaller than .50 caliber.    This opens the door to ban other calibers, such as .40 caliber, then .30, then .22. After all, if a caliber never used in crime is banned, why not ban other calibers?

A08895/S01799 – Regulates “municipal” shooting ranges and any used by law enforcement. Limits hours and days of operation and adds noise limits.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. This bill applies to: “All shooting ranges owned or used by a municipality, including shooting ranges used by law enforcement for training purposes, shall only be in operation between eight a.m. and eight p.m. and only operate one weekend per month.” Noise limits measured at 100 ft past property boundaries, not just the shooting range.   Affects most sporting clubs that allow municipal use, similar to attempt by Good Neighbor bill of 2023-2024.

A00346 – Establishes unlawful possession of a firearm by persons under 21 years of age.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. Age of majority is the threshold of legal adulthood and is 18 in  most states. Joining “we the people” is recognized to happen at 18. One can join the military and fight wars at 18. Rights belong to adults. Privileges, not rights, can be denied by the state.

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SCOPE’s 2025-2026 WATCH LIST
of Firearms Legislation Considered in the NYS Legislature

A01764/S04388 – restricts marketing of firearms and related products to persons under eighteen.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. Only excepts hunting as a viable use for under 18 firearms. No consideration of youth shooting sports including 4-H youth teams, NYS Clay Targets teams, Scouting America, etc., which enable youths 10-18 years of age to participate.

A01774/S00418 – S04807 – Limits purchase of firearms to one per 30 day or 90-day period.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. Crime to purchase more than one firearm within 30 to 90 days. Violates the Constitution.

A00929 – Grants NYS Attorney General the power to prosecute sale of firearms/ammunition in other states to NY residents without contacting NYS Police.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE – Aimed at sales conducted outside NY State and violates the U.S. Constitution (the Commerce Clause) and the Second Amendment.

S01358 – Child operated firearms.

            SCOPE Position: OPPOSE. Sets mechanical requirements preventing disabled or small stature adults from safely operating firearms.  These requirements include multiple operations needed to operate firearms. Requirements make operating firearm difficult for adult.  Hinder self-defense situations where time is essential. 

A01962B/S03385A – Enacts “Francesco’s law” which adds criteria to safe storage requirements.

            SCOPE Position: WATCH – Class A misdemeanor to not safely store firearms accessible to minor or prohibited person.

A09373/S08608 – Limits firearms dealers able to bid on state contracts

            SCOPE Position: WATCH – Adds much bureaucracy for selling guns to NY State.

S01273 – Prohibits open carrying rifle or shotgun

            SCOPE Position: WATCH – Additional restrictions on long guns open carry, adds confusion.