NY State Police: Ammo Background Check System Online Sept. 13
New York State Police to Implement Background Checks for Ammunition Purchases
The New York State Police have announced that a system for performing background checks for ammunition purchases will be in place by September 13, 2023. According to an email from the NYSP Public Information Office, the process is currently being developed and will be finalized and posted prior to the launch date.
Under NY Exec. Law 228, the NYSP will serve as the point of contact for background checks for all firearm purchases and will also handle background checks for ammunition purchases starting on September 13, 2023.
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This means that in New York, only Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealers will be authorized to sell ammunition, and a background check will be required for each purchase.
It is worth noting that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office did not respond to inquiries from The Epoch Times seeking comment on this matter.
According to the NYSP email, a fee will be charged for each background check. The cost for firearm purchase background checks will be $9, while ammunition background checks will cost $2.50. These payments will be transferred to the state comptroller, who will allocate them to cover the expenses of the background check system.
The email also states that the fees will be assessed per purchase, with no limit on the amount or type of ammunition.
While federal law mandates background checks for gun purchases, it restricts the use of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to “proposed firearm transfers as required by the Brady Act.” However, FFL dealers in New York will not face any issues in this regard, as background checks are required by state law.
Under NY Exec. Law 228, the information gathered from these background checks will be stored in a statewide firearms license database. This database may include data from various entities such as the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Office of Mental Health, and other local organizations.
State Databases Planned
This information will be utilized for the certification and recertification of firearm permits. It is important to note that this data will not be considered public records under the law. Additionally, the NYSP is authorized to develop other databases as needed.
The proposal for background checks on ammunition sales was initially introduced in 2013 under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act. However, at that time, the NYSP stated that they did not have a system in place for conducting such background checks.
Republicans in the New York legislature were able to negotiate a memorandum of understanding, which stipulated that no state funds would be allocated until both parties agreed on a cost plan and a plan for implementing the system. However, Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA), revealed that Mr. Cuomo disregarded the memorandum, stating that he could tear it up at any time.
In a speech on an extraordinary session of the legislature, Gov. Hochul confirmed that she had indeed torn up the memorandum and emphasized that the new law requiring background checks for all ammunition purchases would only impact criminals, not lawful gun owners.
Despite concerns raised by some about increased costs and regulatory burdens on law-abiding gun owners, Gov. Hochul reiterated in her speech that the law’s purpose is to target criminals who have been convicted of felonies or fall into other prohibited categories.
Mr. King expressed concerns that the new law may force FFL holders in his group out of business, as many gun owners practice shooting multiple times a month, necessitating frequent background checks for ammunition purchases.
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