Governor Hochul Signs Gun Safety Legislation Strengthening Bans on Realistic-looking Imitation Weapons Used to Commit Crimes

 Legislation S.687/A.3998 Bans Imitation Weapons Unless They Are Brightly Colored or Completely Constructed of Translucent Materials

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation S.687/A.3998 to strengthen restrictions on imitation weapons, which can be used to commit crimes. The new law makes imitation weapons easily identifiable, preventing them from being used to commit crimes and allowing law enforcement to identify a device as fake when assessing threats. 

"My top priority as governor is keeping New Yorkers safe, and that means cracking down on devices used to commit crime," Governor Hochul said. "Restricting these realistic-looking devices will ensure misleading and potentially dangerous devices are off our streets, keeping kids, law enforcement and all New Yorkers safe."  

This new law strengthens existing restrictions on imitation weapons by clarifying that permissible imitation weapons must be easily identifiable: they cannot be black, blue, silver or aluminum, and must be colored white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green, bright blue, bright pink, bright purple, or be made entirely of transparent or translucent materials. While certain imitation weapons are prohibited by certain municipalities, like New York City, this new law will create consistency throughout the state. Limited common-sense exceptions for special use, such as imitation weapons used in theatrical productions, are permitted.

According to data released by the Office of the Attorney General, there have been at least 63 shootings in New York State as a result of individuals mistaking imitation weapons for real firearms, eight of which have resulted in fatalities, and hundreds of crimes have been committed in New York City with imitation weapons.

This month, Governor Hochul announced a 93 percent increase use of the Red Flag Law by law enforcement as part of ongoing efforts to combat increased gun violence throughout the state. In June, Governor Hochul called an extraordinary session in response to the Supreme Court's decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen and signed legislation to strengthen gun laws. Governor Hochul also formed the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns, which has been successful in combatting the transportation of illegal guns across state lines.