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Legal Information: New York

State Gun Laws

Updated: 
July 7, 2023

If the abuser has been convicted of a crime, can s/he legally keep or buy a gun?

New York state law says that a person cannot have a “rifle or shotgun” if s/he has been convicted of a felony or serious offense.1 Also, a person cannot have any “firearm” outside of his/her home or place of business if s/he has been convicted of a felony or a class A misdemeanor within the past five years.2

In addition, a person cannot get a license to carry a concealed firearm, if s/he was convicted within the past five years of any of the following:

1 NY Penal Law § 265.01(4)
2 NY Penal Law § 265.02(5)(ii)
3 NY Penal Law § 400.00(1), (2)