A03211 Summary:

BILL NO    A03211A

SAME AS    Same as S 4752

SPONSOR    Eddington (MS)

COSPNSR    Bing, Lifton, Bradley, Ramos, Kavanagh

MLTSPNSR   Dinowitz, Englebright, Glick, Gottfried, Hoyt, John, Koon, Ortiz,
           Paulin, Peoples-Stokes, Perry, Pheffer, Scarborough, Towns,
           Weinstein, Weisenberg

Amd Pen L, generally; add S231, Exec L

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.

A03211 Actions:

BILL NO    A03211A

01/23/2009 referred to codes
04/16/2009 amend and recommit to codes
04/16/2009 print number 3211a
04/21/2009 reported referred to ways and means
04/21/2009 reported 
04/23/2009 advanced to third reading cal.376
04/28/2009 passed assembly
04/28/2009 delivered to senate
04/28/2009 REFERRED TO CODES

A03211 Votes:

BILL: A03211A DATE: 04/28/2009  MOTION:                       YEA/NAY: 090/051

Abbate  Y  Cahill  Y  Englebr Y  Hooper  Y  Maisel  Y  Powell  Y  Skartad Y
Alessi  NO Calhoun NO Errigo  NO Hoyt    Y  Markey  Y  Pretlow Y  Spano   Y
Alfano  Y  Camara  Y  Espaill Y  Hyer-Sp Y  Mayerso Y  Quinn   NO Stirpe  NO
Amedore NO Canestr Y  Farrell Y  Jacobs  Y  McDonou NO Rabbitt NO Sweeney Y
Arroyo  Y  Carrozz ER Fields  NO Jaffee  Y  McEneny Y  Raia    NO Tedisco NO
Aubry   Y  Castro  ER Finch   NO Jeffrie Y  McKevit Y  Ramos   Y  Thiele  NO
Bacalle NO Christe Y  Fitzpat NO John    Y  Meng    Y  Reilich NO Titone  Y
Ball    NO Clark   Y  Gabrysz NO Jordan  NO Miller  NO Reilly  NO Titus   Y
Barclay NO Colton  Y  Galef   Y  Kavanag Y  Millman Y  Rive J  Y  Tobacco ER
Barra   Y  Conte   NO Gantt   Y  Kellner Y  Molinar NO Rive N  Y  Towns   Y
Barron  Y  Cook    Y  Gianari Y  Kolb    NO Morelle Y  Rive PM Y  Townsen NO
Benedet Y  Corwin  NO Giglio  NO Koon    Y  Nolan   Y  Robinso ER Walker  NO
Benjami Y  Crouch  NO Glick   Y  Lancman Y  Oaks    NO Rosenth Y  Weinste Y
Bing    Y  Cusick  Y  Gordon  NO Latimer Y  O'Donne Y  Russell NO Weisenb Y
Boyland Y  Cymbrow Y  Gottfri Y  Lavine  Y  O'Mara  NO Saladin NO Weprin  Y
Boyle   NO DelMont NO Greene  Y  Lentol  Y  Ortiz   Y  Sayward NO Wright  ER
Bradley Y  DenDekk Y  Gunther NO Lifton  Y  Parment NO Scarbor Y  Zebrows Y
Brennan Y  Destito NO Hawley  NO Lope PD NO Paulin  ER Schimel Y  Mr Spkr Y
Brodsky Y  Diaz    Y  Hayes   NO Lope VJ Y  Peoples Y  Schimmi ER
Brook-K Y  Dinowit Y  Heastie Y  Lupardo NO Peralta Y  Schroed NO
Burling NO Duprey  NO Hevesi  Y  Magee   NO Perry   Y  Scozzaf NO
Butler  NO Eddingt Y  Hikind  ER Magnare Y  Pheffer Y  Seminer ER

A03211 Memo:

BILL NUMBER:A3211A

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 penal-
ties  for  the use of a 50-caliber weapon while committing certain felo-
nies and to implement procedures for public compliance with  this  stat-
ute.

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
50caliber 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 weap-
ons 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 50caliber
weapons from a U.S. manufacturer. This fact came to light at  the  trial
of  terrorists  convicted of the American embassy bombings in Africa. 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:      2007-2008:   A.2772-A    -    Passed
Assembly/S.2411-A  -  Remained in Committee 2005-2006: A.4471-A - Passed
Assembly 2004: A7039a - Passed Assembly

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: provisions.

Minimal costs associated with reimbursement

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately