S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5611
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 18, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LUCAS -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring owners of
firearms to obtain liability insurance
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The insurance law is amended by adding a new section 2354
to read as follows:
§ 2354. FIREARM OWNERS INSURANCE POLICIES. 1. ANY PERSON IN THIS
STATE WHO SHALL OWN A FIREARM SHALL, PRIOR TO SUCH OWNERSHIP, OBTAIN AND
CONTINUOUSLY MAINTAIN A POLICY OF LIABILITY INSURANCE IN AN AMOUNT NOT
LESS THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS SPECIFICALLY COVERING ANY DAMAGES RESULT-
ING FROM ANY NEGLIGENT ACTS INVOLVING THE USE OF SUCH FIREARM WHILE IT
IS OWNED BY SUCH PERSON. FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUCH INSURANCE SHALL RESULT
IN THE IMMEDIATE REVOCATION OF SUCH OWNER'S REGISTRATION, LICENSE AND
ANY OTHER PRIVILEGE TO OWN SUCH FIREARM.
2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, A PERSON SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE THE
OWNER OF A FIREARM IF SUCH FIREARM IS LOST OR STOLEN UNTIL SUCH LOSS OR
THEFT IS REPORTED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR SHERIFF WHICH HAS JURIS-
DICTION IN THE COUNTY, TOWN, CITY OR VILLAGE IN WHICH SUCH OWNER
RESIDES.
3. ANY PERSON WHO OWNS A FIREARM ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION
SHALL OBTAIN THE INSURANCE REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION WITHIN THIRTY DAYS
OF SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE.
4. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY PEACE OFFI-
CER, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2.10 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW, POLICE
OFFICER, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION THIRTY-FOUR OF SECTION 1.20 OF THE
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW, OR ANY MEMBER OF THE MILITARY WHO IS ON "ACTIVE
DUTY" OR "IN ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES" AS DEFINED IN
SECTION ONE OF THE MILITARY LAW, WHO IS AUTHORIZED TO CARRY A FIREARM.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08250-01-5
A. 5611 2
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This is just another law that would be forced upon law abiding firearm owners who are not the problem. Criminals who commit crimes or harm or murder individuals do not abide by any laws and the criminals are the issue, not firearms or law abiding firearm owners. We need to enforce the anti crime laws already in place and stop the revolving door approach of criminals in the judicial system. Adding more laws and specifically laws that are unconstitutional is the wrong approach.
Requiring someone to pay to obtain their constitutional rights is illegal.
Also, does anyone really believe that criminals are going to pay attention to another law? The only people affected by this would be the already law abiding citizens.