Skip to Main Content
Last updated .

In 2021, New York enacted the Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act1 and the Jose Webster Untraceable Firearms Act,2 which together prohibit ghost guns and the unserialized parts used to make them.3

These laws included provisions to generally:

  • Make it unlawful to sell, exchange, give, or dispose of a completed or unfinished frame or receiver that is not serialized.4 (The term “unfinished frame or receiver” is defined for these purposes to include any unserialized material “that has been shaped or formed in any way for the purpose of becoming the frame or receiver of a firearm, rifle or shotgun, and which may readily be made into a functional frame or receiver through milling, drilling or other means.”)5
  • Make it unlawful (after a six month implementation period) to possess an unserialized firearm, unserialized completed frame or receiver, or unserialized unfinished frame or receiver6 with knowledge that it is unserialized.7
  • Make it unlawful to sell, exchange, give, or dispose of an unserialized ghost gun to another person when knowing or having reason to know the gun is an unserialized ghost gun.8;
  • Ensure that people who are legally disqualified from possessing a shotgun or rifle pursuant to state or federal law are also disqualified from possessing a major component of a firearm, defined to include the firearm’s barrel, slide or cylinder, frame, or receiver.9

In 2026, New York enacted legislation targeting the 3D printing of ghost guns, including prohibiting the distribution of code that allows for firearms to be printed and mandating blocking technology on 3D printers once it is feasible. 10 The law:

  • Makes it a crime to transfer, sell, or offer to sell a digital firearm manufacturing code to someone other than a federal firearm license (FFL) that is also a New York-licensed gunsmith, unless an exception applies. 11 
  • Makes it a crime to possess a digital firearm manufacturing code with an intent to illegally manufacture a firearm or to distribute it to a person in New York who is not a FFL and a New York-licensed gunsmith. 12 
  • Convenes a working group to make recommendations within a year on blocking technology for 3D printers to prevent the printing of firearms and illegal firearms parts. Unless the working group reports that it is not technologically feasible, regulations will be issued mandating that 3D printers be equipped with blocking technology. 13 
  • Makes it illegal for anyone to sell or deliver a 3D printer in New York unless it is equipped with blocking technology starting one year after rules are promulgated.14 There is an exception for a valid FFL and New York-licensed gunsmith that makes a written request of the state Attorney General.

New York also makes it unlawful to knowingly manufacture, cause to be manufactured, sell, exchange, give, dispose of, transport, ship, or possess with intent to sell an undetectable firearm, which includes firearms that:

  • Cannot be detected by metal detectors after the removal of grips, stocks, and magazines.15
  • Have a barrel, slide or cylinder, frame, or receiver that cannot be imaged by security screening devices commonly used at airports.16

MEDIA REQUESTS

Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.

Contact
  1. N.Y. S. 13 (2021).[↩]
  2. N.Y. S. 14 (2021).[↩]
  3. These laws were amended by legislation enacted in early 2022. See 2021 NY S 7705 and 7736.[↩]
  4. N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.01(10), 265.63, 265.64, 265.60, 265.61.[↩]
  5. N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.00(32); 265.07(1).[↩]
  6. New York’s definition of “unfinished frame or receiver” refers to any unserialized material “that has been shaped or formed in any way for the purpose of becoming the frame or receiver of a firearm, rifle or shotgun, and which may readily be made into a functional frame or receiver through milling, drilling or other means.” N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.00(32).[↩]
  7. See N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.00 and 265.07 (defining “ghost gun” to mean an unserialized and unregistered firearm); 265.01(9)(prohibiting possession of unserialized firearms); 265.01(10)(prohibiting possession of unserialized completed or unfinished frames and receivers).[↩]
  8. N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.60; 265.61. See also, N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.00 and 265.07 (defining “ghost gun” to mean an unserialized and unregistered firearm.[↩]
  9. N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.00(3-a); 265.01(9).[↩]
  10. N.Y. S. 9005 (2026), A. 10005 (2026).[↩]
  11. N.Y. Penal Law § 265.10 (11).[↩]
  12. N.Y. Penal Law § 265.10 (12).[↩]
  13. N.Y. Executive Law § 837-aa.[↩]
  14. N.Y. General Business Law § 396, eeee.[↩]
  15. N.Y. Penal Law § 265.50(A)(1); id. § 265.55(A)(1).[↩]
  16. N.Y. Penal Law § 265.50(A)(2); id. § 265.55(A)(2).[↩]

By continuing on our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Terms & Conditions.Privacy Policy.