SAFE Act deadline requires registration

NEW YORK—The deadline for New Yorkers to register their assault weapons with the state arrived Tuesday, April 15. Under the provisions of the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act, all owners of assault weapons are required to register their firearm with the New York State Police.
According to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s website (www.governor.ny.gov), assault weapon owners had until Tuesday to register their weapons with the state. The penalty for not registering an assault weapon by the deadline is a class A misdemeanor, which will also result in the owner losing their firearm. If the failure to register in time is unintentional, a 30-day amnesty period will be extended for purposes of registering the weapon. Those who register their weapons are required to register with the state police every five years.
Rifles that have to be registered are semiautomatic weapons capable of receiving a detachable magazine and have one or more banned military characteristics. Assault weapons that are modified to remove certain features do not have to be registered with the state. The banned firearm features include a folding or telescoping stock, protruding pistol grip, thumbhole stock, second hand grip, bayonet mount, threaded barrel and any flash suppressors, muzzle brakes or compensators.
Residents can register their weapon online at https://firearms.troopers.ny.gov/safeact/welcome.faces or mail to the New York State Police Pistol Permit Bureau, 1220 Washington Ave., Building 22, Albany, NY, 12226. There is no fee to register an assault weapon.