History of NYS Firearms Association
Prior to our founding, every gun owner in New York State knew that Andrew Cuomo hated gun owners, but the details of what was going on in Albany usually weren’t conveyed to grassroots gun owners in time to do anything about it. Additionally, other organizations were unwilling to name the Republicans who betrayed them.
The New York State Firearms Association (NYSFA) changed all of that with a new way of doing grassroots politics. Using videos and text messages — in addition to traditional direct mail mobilization techniques — we are able to inform and mobilize millions of gun owners each session. As a result, much of Kathy Hochul’s gun control agenda has been blocked!
2018: The New York State Firearms Association (NYSFA) is Founded.
NYSFA was founded as a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.
2019: NYSFA blocks social media gun control in Albany
NYSFA sounded the alarm on S.1413, which would have mandated disclosure of social media account passwords as part of applying for a pistol permit. The bill was defeated.
2020: NYSFA files Stand-Your-Ground in Albany, Covid disrupts everything.
NYSFA filed what may have been the first-ever Stand-Your-Ground law in New York State. Senator Rob Ortt was the lead sponsor in the Senate (S.7915), and Assemblyman David DiPietro filed the Assembly version (A.10114). COVID effectively stalled the advancement of the bill. NYSFA defeated S.7065/A.1589, which sought to mandate mental health exams before a New Yorker could buy a gun.
2021: NYSFA battles to stop 5 gun control bills, Cuomo resigns
NYSFA mounted a full-scale program to shut down S.314, which would have placed severe limits on how many rounds of ammo New Yorkers could buy per quarter. NYSFA members also stopped A.449 (which would have imposed a 10-day waiting period on gun sales), A.581 (which would have required civil liability insurance for gun owners), and A.476 (which would have made it a crime for anyone under 21 to own a firearm). Andrew Cuomo resigned as Governor, and Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul assumed the office.
2022: NYSFA fights to stop CCIA, Bruen decision handed down, Hochul reacts
NYSFA opposed mental health exams, social media checks, and waiting periods on gun sales. Senator George Borrello filed our Stand-Your-Ground bill (S.3718), and Assemblyman David DiPietro filed the Assembly version (A.05269). In May, a criminal shot up Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, killing 10 and kicking off a massive push for gun control. SCOTUS handed down the Bruen decision, striking down key aspects of New York’s ‘May Issue’ permit laws. In response, Hochul convened a special session and rammed the Concealed Carry Improvement Act into law in one day, severely attacking the Second Amendment.
2023: NYSFA Sues Kathy Hochul and NY State over ammo registration
NYSFA filed an Amicus Brief in the legal challenge against the Concealed Carry Improvement Act in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. The court struck down major components of this bill. Hochul funded the ammo registration law that passed in 2013 as part of the SAFE Act but had never been funded or enacted. NYSFA filed a federal lawsuit in response. The name of the case is NYSFA v. Nigrelli.
2024: NYSFA blocked 10-Day waiting periods, Appeals Lawsuit to 2nd Circuit
NYSFA stopped mental health exams (S.4126) and drug tests for gun owners (S.5763). While the Senate passed a 10-day waiting period (S.4818), NYSFA was able to kill it in the Assembly. District Court Judge Wimes ruled against us in our lawsuit; NYSFA appealed to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. NYSFA ran a massive general election program, exposing anti-gun Democrats in over a half dozen races, costing the Democrats their Senate supermajority.
2025: NYSFA blocks all gun control in Albany, Appeal Heard in Manhattan
NYSFA’s lawsuit was heard in March in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. NYSFA ran huge mobilization programs that blocked 10-day waiting periods (S.362), a civil liability insurance requirement for gun owners (A.5611), mental health exams for gun owners (S.4790), a massive increase in taxes on gun and ammo sales (A.1290), and more.