New York

FOPA applies, but NY police treat possession as a crime first and FOPA as an affirmative defense. Do not stop in NY with firearms if possible.

Generally illegal. Permits are for 'Concealed Carry'. Open carry of loaded handguns is not authorized by the standard license.

Standard TSA rules apply, BUT bringing a handgun to a NY airport without a NY permit is a felony (arrests happen frequently at JFK/LGA).

Technically 'Shall Issue' after Bruen, but practically very difficult due to the CCIA requirements.

Post-Bruen 'Shall Issue' but with strict requirements: 16-hour course, 2-hour live fire, 4 character references, interview, and 'good moral character' assessment.

Prohibited. Colleges are 'sensitive locations'.

State law prohibits carry on school grounds. Federal GFSZA applies to the 1000ft zone, but NY permits generally exempt you from the federal 1000ft ban (though not the school grounds themselves).

Illegal without a valid NY Pistol Permit. Long guns must always be unloaded in vehicles.

NY state law bans carry in 'public parks', which NY interprets to include all parks within its borders, overriding the federal allowance.

Extensive list under CCIA. Includes almost all public gathering places. The 'private property default' ban (Vampire Rule) was enjoined by the 2nd Circuit, but the specific sensitive locations list remains largely in effect pending final SCOTUS review.

Without a permit, handguns must be unloaded and locked in a container, separate from ammo. Long guns must be unloaded.

Banned. SBRs and SBSs fall under the definition of 'Firearm' in a way that generally prohibits them unless specifically licensed, which is rarely done for civilians. They are effectively banned.

Illegal to possess unfinished frames/receivers unless you are a gunsmith. All firearms must be serialized by an FFL.

Banned. Possession is a felony (Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree).

All firearms must bear a serial number. Unserialized 'ghost guns' must be surrendered or serialized by a gunsmith.

Statute passed in 2022 requires DCJS to certify viability. Once certified, new semi-auto pistols must microstamp. As of late 2025, implementation is ongoing/pending certification.

Flash suppressors and muzzle brakes are banned features on semi-auto rifles with detachable magazines. Threaded barrels are also banned features.

Yes. The SAFE Act bans semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines and ONE prohibited feature (pistol grip, thumbhole stock, folding stock, flash suppressor, muzzle brake, etc.).

10 rounds maximum. Possession of >10 round magazines is a crime.

Fixed Magazine (cannot be removed without disassembling action) OR Featureless (no pistol grip, muzzle device, etc.).

Handguns are registered on the permit. Semi-auto rifles purchased after Sept 2022 require a license, creating a de facto registry of owners, though the rifles themselves may not be individually listed on the license in all counties (varies by county clerk practice).

Mandatory if living with someone under 16 or a prohibited person. Must use a safe or trigger lock.

Yes. Police, family, and school officials can petition for an ERPO to seize firearms.

Strict. You cannot bring handguns into NY without a NY permit. There is no grace period for possession. You must leave them out of state or ship to an FFL until you get a permit.

Must report loss or theft within 24 hours to police and licensing officer.

Must go through FFL for background check. Exception for immediate family.

Allowed for immediate family (spouses, children). Temporary lending at a range is also generally permitted under supervision.

No state mandate for gun owners generally, though some proposals exist. (Note: NY banned 'Carry Guard' type insurance that covers criminal defense costs).

Yes, criminal liability if a child accesses an unsecured firearm.

Federal law prohibits possession. While NY legalized recreational use, federal law (18 USC 922) still classifies marijuana users as prohibited persons.

Generally prohibited unless a permanent resident alien with a valid alien registration card, though this specific statute has faced constitutional challenges (e.g., *Hu v. City of New York*). Federal law allows permanent residents.

Private sales must be processed through a licensed dealer (FFL) who conducts a background check. Transfers between immediate family members (spouses, domestic partners, children, step-children) are exempt.

Illegal under both federal and state law. NY specifically criminalizes purchasing for another to avoid background checks.

Yes. Serious offenses include many DV-related misdemeanors. Additionally, federal MCDV prohibition applies.

New York State Police (NYSP) act as the Point of Contact. All firearm and ammunition purchases go through the NYS background check system, which includes NICS.

NY denies licenses for 'serious offenses' (misdemeanors defined in § 265.00(17)), lack of 'good moral character', or if good cause exists for denial.

Felons, fugitives, unlawful users of controlled substances, those adjudicated as mental defectives, illegal aliens, dishonorably discharged veterans, and those subject to certain restraining orders.

21 for handguns (permit required). 21 for semi-automatic rifles (license required). 18 for manual action rifles/shotguns (unless local law like NYC differs).

No statutory fixed-day wait (e.g., 10 days) for the purchase itself, but the licensing process for handguns and semi-auto rifles can take months. Once licensed, the background check can be instant or delayed up to 30 days.

No official roster of approved models like CA, but individual counties/judges may restrict specific types on permits. 'Junk gun' laws apply to dealers.

Yes. A Pistol Permit is required to purchase/possess handguns. A Semi-Automatic Rifle License is required to purchase/take possession of any semi-automatic rifle.

Legal, but must be shipped to a NY FFL for transfer and background check.

No state-level 'one gun per month' statute, though NYC (Title 38) has a 90-day limit. Licensing officers have broad discretion.

No quantity limits, but background checks are required for all ammo purchases. Internet sales must ship to a dealer/seller for the check.

Handguns must be shipped to NY FFL. Long guns can technically be bought in person out of state if they comply with NY laws (e.g., SAFE Act compliant), but many out-of-state dealers refuse NY sales due to complexity.

Yes. Every ammunition purchase requires a background check through the NY State Police system.

New York has a limited castle doctrine, removing the duty to retreat when an individual is in their dwelling and not the initial aggressor, but it does not include a presumption of reasonable fear or explicitly extend to vehicles or workplaces.

New York imposes a duty to retreat before using deadly force, which applies everywhere except when the individual is in their own dwelling and not the initial aggressor.

New York does not have a stand your ground law; individuals generally have a duty to retreat from deadly force in public places if they can do so with complete personal safety.