Can Pro-Gun bills actually come from the NYS Legislature?  By Ron Havlen

The number of bills containing the word ‘firearm’ introduced or acted on in the 2025-2026 session seems staggering. Especially when bills listed with a version in both the NY Assembly and NY Senate are counted as just one bill, resulting in 349.

Recently published was the new ‘Top Ten most Egregious Firearms Legislation.’ We even added a second “Watch List” of what we also consider bad bills, that didn’t quite make the top ten.

However, not all is the doom and gloom as we might initially think. There are actually a few somewhat bright spots, although rare. Below I list what I believe are the most beneficial bills to legal firearms ownership that I found within the current legislative session. It’s not many, but it does show there are a few legislators in NYS that can appreciate the rights inherited by all New York State citizens.

A03840/S01872– This bill would repeal the background check fees for guns and ammunition as they were included in the Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA).

 Assembly sponsor Blankenbush with several co-sponsors. Senate sponsor Walczyk.

A05584/S03481– This bill would eliminate background checks for ammunition sales in New York State and prevent the State from passing other background check fees on to dealers or their respective customers.

 Assembly sponsor Bailey with co-sponsor, Senate sponsor Helming with co-sponsors.

A02472/S01647– The ‘Civil Rights Restoration Act’ recognizes the abuse of basic rights in the SAFE act and seeks to return due process and the right to keep and bear arms to the people of New York State. It clarifies rights to counsel and legal hearing. While the bill doesn’t mention ‘Red Flag Laws’, it goes a long way to rectify certain injustices inherent in such laws.

 Sponsored by Assembly sponsor Hawley with co-sponsors and Senator Borrello.

A03863/S07302– This bill simply states its purpose is to eliminate the re-certification requirements for firearms licenses created by the Safe Act.

 Assembly sponsor DiPietro and Senate sponsor Gallivan.

A02547– The purpose of this act is to repeal Chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, amending the Criminal Procedure Law and other laws relating to: suspension and revocation of          firearms licenses; private sale or disposal of firearms, rifles or shotguns; and establishing a minimum age to possess a firearm relating to gun control.   What does all that mean; repeal the ‘SAFE Act.’

 Assembly sponsor DiPietro.

A09203– This is a very simple bill; it seeks a NY State Constitutional amendment which says “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms cannot be infringed.”

 Assembly sponsor Barclay with several co-sponsors.

While, for the most part, our entire NY State government despises the average citizen’s basic rights, there are a few within the NY legislature who appreciate that it is the people, not the overbearing government, that have actual rights.

I encourage you to contact your legislators about the bills we list in the Top Ten Egregious and the Watch List and voice your concerns. I also encourage you to look beyond those bills at others you might find oppressive. And then I also encourage you to contact the legislators listed above and thank them for their support of the basic freedoms of New York Citizens.

NYS Assembly Members

 NYS Senate Members