BILL NUMBER: S7365B
SPONSOR: HOYLMAN-SIGAL
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the penal law and the general business law, in relation
to pistol converters
PURPOSE:
To add common conversion devices to the definition of rapid-fire modifi-
cation devices for the purposes of firearm offenses and to require
firearm sellers to take reasonable precautions to prevent the installa-
tion or use of such devices.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends section 265.00 of the penal law to add the
definition of pistol converter.
Section 2 of the bill amends section 898-a of the general business law
to require firearm sellers to take reasonable steps to prevent the
installation and use of a rapid-fire modification device on qualified
products.
JUSTIFICATION:
In recent years machine gun conversion devices---which can transform an
ordinary pistol into an automatic weapon by allowing it to fire as many
as 15 rounds in under two seconds---have proliferated across the coun-
try. A 2023 report by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives revealed that the recovery of such devices by the agency
has increased 570 percent, with 5,454 such devices seized from 2017 to
2021 alone.
This bill would clarify that pistol converters, even when sold separate-
ly from a firearm are rapid fire modification devices under New York law
and would require firearm sellers in New York state to take reasonable
steps to prevent their use and installation. It would ensure that New
York law reflects the concerning trend toward automation of guns and
require those distributing guns in New York state to be diligent about
preventing their installation and use where possible.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
Statutes affected: S7365: 265.00 penal law, 898-a general business law, 898-a(2) general business law
S7365A: 265.00 penal law, 898-a general business law, 898-a(2) general business law
S7365B: 265.00 penal law, 898-a general business law, 898-a(2) general business law