a. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or dispose of any assault weapon within the city of New York, except as provided in subdivision d, e or f of this section or section 10-305. A person who peaceably surrenders an assault weapon to the commissioner pursuant to subdivision d, e or f of this section or subdivision f of section 10-305 shall not be subject to the criminal or civil penalties set forth in this section.
b. Criminal penalty. Any person who shall violate subdivision a of this section shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment of up to one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment, for each assault weapon disposed of or possessed, provided that the first violation of subdivision a of this section involving possession of an assault weapon as defined in paragraph c of subdivision 16 of section 10-301 shall be an offense punishable by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars of imprisonment of not more than fifteen days, or both, on condition that (1) such first violation is not in conjunction with the commission of a crime and (2) the possessor has not been previously convicted of a felony or a serious offense.
c. Civil penalty. In addition to the penalties prescribed in subdivision b of this section, any person who shall violate subdivision a of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars for each assault weapon disposed of or possessed, to be recovered in a civil action brought by the corporation counsel in the name of the city in any court of competent jurisdiction, provided that the first violation by any person of subdivision a of this section involving possession of an assault weapon as defined in paragraph c of subdivision sixteen of section 10-301 shall subject such person to a civil penalty of not more than five thousand dollars on condition that (1) such first violation is not in conjunction with the commission of a crime and (2) the possessor has not been previously convicted of a felony or a serious offense.
d. Disposition of assault weapons by permittees, licensees and previously exempt persons. Any person who, on or after the effective date of this local law, shall possess an assault weapon and a valid permit for possession and purchase of rifles and shotguns and a certificate of registration for such assault weapon, and any licensed dealer in firearms or licensed dealer in rifles and shotguns who is not licensed as a special theatrical dealer and who, on or after the effective date of this local law, shall possess an assault weapon, and any police officer or peace officer who, before the effective date of this local law was exempt from the sections of the administrative code requiring rifle and shotgun permits and certificates, and who, upon the effective date of this local law, is not exempt from the sections of the administrative code prohibiting the possession or disposition of assault weapons, and who, on or after the effective date of this local law, shall possess an assault weapon, shall, within ninety days of the effective date of rules promulgated by the commissioner pursuant to subparagraph 7 of paragraph a of subdivision 16 of section 10-301, either:
(1) peaceably surrender his or her assault weapon pursuant to subdivision f of section 10-305 for the purpose of destruction of such weapon by the commissioner, provided that the commissioner may authorize the use of such weapon by the department; or
(2) lawfully remove such assault weapon from the city of New York. All assault weapons possessed by such permittees, licensees and previously exempt persons shall be subject to the provisions of this subdivision, whether defined as assault weapons in subdivision 16 of section 10-301 or in rules promulgated by the commissioner pursuant to subparagraph 7 of paragraph a of subdivision 16 of section 10-301.
e. Disposition of assault weapons by non-permittees. Any person who, on or after the effective date of this local law, shall possess an assault weapon and who is not the holder of a valid permit for possession and purchase of rifles and shotguns and a certificate of registration for such assault weapon, shall peaceably surrender his or her assault weapon pursuant to subdivision f of section 10-305 for the purpose of destruction of such weapon by the commissioner, provided that the commissioner may authorize the use of such weapon by the department, and provided further that heirs and legatees may dispose of assault weapons pursuant to subdivision f of this section.
f. Disposition of assault weapons by heirs and legatees. Any person who acquires an assault weapon on or after the effective date of this local law by the laws of intestacy or by testamentary bequest shall, within ninety days of such acquisition, either:
(1) peaceably surrender such assault weapon pursuant to subdivision f of section 10-305 for the purpose of destruction of such weapon by the commissioner, provided that the commissioner may authorize the use of such weapon by the department; or
(2) lawfully remove such assault weapon from the city of New York.
g. Within thirty days of the effective date of rules promulgated by the commissioner pursuant to subparagraph 7 of paragraph a of subdivision 16 of section 10-301, the commissioner shall send by regular mail to every person who has been issued a permit to possess a rifle or shotgun and whose rifle or shotgun the commissioner reasonably believes to be an assault weapon as defined in subdivision 16 of section 10-301 or as defined in such rules, a written notice setting forth the requirements and procedures relating to the disposition of such weapons, and the criminal and civil penalties that may be imposed upon the permittee for unlawful possession or disposition of such weapons. Failure by the commissioner to send, or the permittee to receive, such notice, shall not excuse such permittee for unlawful possession or disposition of such weapons.
h. Surrender of firearms. At the discretion of the police commissioner, any person convicted of violating this section may be subject to immediate surrender of all firearms in his or her possession.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1991/078 and L.L. 1995/076.