New York to outlaw Glocks - Update

Let's look at New York Senate Bill S9225. An act to amend the penal law, in relation to the regulation of pistol converters and convertible pistols

Section 1 amends subdivision 1 of section 265.00 of the penal law, which defines "Machine-gun" and adds two new subdivisions 36 and 37 to that section to define the following terms: "Pistol converter", and "Convertible pistol".

Section 2 amends subdivision 10 of section 265.02 of the penal law, as added by Chapter 1 of the laws of 2013 by adding a new subdivision 11 that criminalizes the possession of any pistol converter.

1. "Machine-gun" means a weapon of any description, irrespective of size, by whatever name known, loaded or unloaded, from which a number of shots or bullets may be rapidly or automatically discharged from a magazine with one continuous pull of the trigger and includes a sub-machine gun, AND ALSO INCLUDES ANY CONVERTIBLE PISTOL THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH A PISTOL CONVERTER.

36. "PISTOL CONVERTER" MEANS ANY DEVICE OR INSTRUMENT THAT WHEN INSTALLED IN OR ATTACHED TO THE SLIDE OF A SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL INTERFERES WITH THE TRIGGER MECHANISM AND THEREBY ENABLES THE PISTOL TO DISCHARGE A NUMBER OF SHOTS OR BULLETS RAPIDLY OR AUTOMATICALLY WITH ONE CONTINUOUS PULL OF THE TRIGGER.

37. "CONVERTIBLE PISTOL" MEANS ANY SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL THAT CAN BE CONVERTED INTO A MACHINE-GUN SOLELY BY THE INSTALLATION OR ATTACHMENT OF A PISTOL CONVERTER.

If I read this correctly, any pistol that can be converted to full-auto by adding a converter is a machinegun according to this bill, regardless of whether or not it has been converted. Since this bill is in direct response to the availability of aftermarket Glock switches, that means that every Glock is would be classified as a machinegun. If a converter is created for other striker or hammer fired pistols, those models, too, would be reclassified as machineguns by virtue of the existence of converters. Presumably, AR pistols would also be illegal machineguns, assuming you have a NY SAFE compliant model that's been registered, duty to the existence of lightning links. In the end, this bill seeks to ban the most popular handgun in America, and possibly many other models, due to the existence of an already illegal aftermarket accessory, even of your don't own or install the accessory. New York will probably pass it, the ensuing court fight will be where New Yorkers possibly get a reprieve. Update: Based on the number of comments I read, I want to highlight a piece of relevant text. "CONVERTIBLE PISTOL" MEANS ANY SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL THAT CAN BE CONVERTED INTO A MACHINE-GUN SOLELY BY THE INSTALLATION OR ATTACHMENT OF A PISTOL CONVERTER. "That can be converted" is the kicker. A Glock can be converted into full auto by the addition of a switch. That section of text makes it clear that installing a switch is not required. If the model gun can be converted by installing a switch, that is sufficient to be a machinegun. Yes, it's bad law. So is thr NY SAFE Act. That didn't stop New York from passing it.