S.4277: Proposed .50 Caliber Firearm Ban

What the Bill Would Do

Senate Bill S.4277, titled the "50 Caliber Threat Reduction Act," proposes to amend the Penal Law and the Executive Law to prohibit the possession, sale, and use of certain .50 caliber firearms in New York.^[1] The bill was introduced by Senator Brian Kavanagh on February 3, 2025.

Definition of ".50 Caliber Weapon"

Under S.4277, a ".50 caliber weapon" is defined as any rifle capable of firing a center-fire cartridge of .50 caliber or greater, including any metric equivalent. The definition also captures any firearm capable of firing a projectile that attains a muzzle energy of 12,000 foot-pounds or greater.^[2] This broad energy-based threshold is designed to prevent circumvention through alternative caliber designations that achieve similar ballistic performance.

Legislative Findings

The bill's legislative findings declare that .50 caliber or larger weapons "having the capacity for rapidly discharging ammunition have no acceptable purpose and pose such an imminent threat and danger to the safety and security of the people of this state that it is necessary to ban the possession and use of such weapons."^[3] Proponents argue that .50 caliber rifles can defeat body armor and light armored vehicles and have an effective range exceeding one mile.

Buyback and Registration Provisions

S.4277 directs the Division of State Police to establish a buyback program under which persons who lawfully possess .50 caliber weapons before the effective date may be reimbursed at fair market value upon surrendering their firearms to a designated law enforcement officer. Alternatively, current owners may register their .50 caliber weapons with the Superintendent of State Police within one year of the law's effective date.^[4] The registration requirement parallels the approach New York took with assault weapons under the SAFE Act, which required existing owners to register by a specified deadline.

Companion Bill and Status

The companion Assembly bill is A.8853.^[5] S.4277 advanced to third reading in the Senate on May 22, 2025 but did not reach a floor vote before the session ended. The bill was re-referred to the Senate Codes committee on January 7, 2026, and remains under active consideration in the 2025-2026 session.^[7] Gun Owners of America has formally opposed the bill, arguing that it targets firearms that are rarely used in crimes and that the ban would face a Second Amendment challenge under the Bruen framework.^[6] California is the only state that currently bans .50 BMG rifles by name (Penal Code Section 30530), and S.4277's broader energy-based definition would go further than California's existing prohibition. The bill has not been signed into law. It is currently in the Senate Codes committee for the 2025-2026 legislative session.