New York legal term
Firearm in New York Criminal Law
Current through 2026 New York legislative session
In New York criminal law, “Firearm” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the New York criminal code.
What does “Firearm” mean in New York criminal law?
"Firearm" means (a) any pistol or revolver; or (b) a shotgun having one or more barrels less than eighteen inches in length; or (c) a rifle having one or more barrels less than sixteen inches in length; or (d) any weapon made from a shotgun or rifle whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise if such weapon as altered, modified, or otherwise has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches; or (e) an assault weapon; or (f) any other weapon that is not otherwise defined in this section containing any component that provides housing or a structure designed to hold or integrate any fire (N.Y. Penal Law § 265.00)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Burglary in the first degree
- Burglary in the second degree
- Criminal contempt in the first degree
- Criminal manufacture, sale, or transport of an undetectable firearm, rifle or shotgun
- Criminal possession of a firearm
- Criminal possession of a firearm, rifle or shotgun in a sensitive location
- Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds
- Criminal possession of an undetectable firearm, rifle or shotgun
- Criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon
- Criminal sale of a firearm in the first degree
- Criminal sale of a firearm in the second degree
- Criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.