S00362: Ten-Day Firearm Waiting Period Advances to Senate Floor

What the Bill Would Do

Senate Bill 362 would establish a mandatory 10-day waiting period before a firearm, shotgun, or rifle may be delivered to a purchaser^[1]. Violations would constitute a class A misdemeanor. New York currently does not have a universal statutory waiting period, though the handgun licensing process under Penal Law Article 400 (the Sullivan Act) effectively creates a delay measured in months for pistol and revolver purchases due to the license application timeline. This bill would add a separate, explicit waiting period that applies to all firearms types, including rifles and shotguns — which can currently be purchased without a license outside New York City.

Current Status

S00362 advanced to third reading in the Senate on February 26, 2026^[2]. Third reading is the final stage before a floor vote. The Assembly companion A03233 remains referred to Codes. For this bill to reach the Governor, both chambers must pass it.

What to Watch

The practical impact is most significant for rifle and shotgun purchases, which currently have no waiting period outside NYC. For handgun purchasers who already hold a valid pistol license under PL 400, the 10-day wait would add a new delay on top of the existing background check process. Key questions: whether exceptions exist for license holders, law enforcement, or emergency situations such as active threats documented by an order of protection. Watch for the Assembly Codes Committee to act on A03233 — without Assembly passage, the Senate bill cannot move forward.