The Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA), passed on Friday, July 1, 2022, authorizes the Division of State Police to serve as the Point of Contact (POC) for conducting background checks on firearms and ammunition purchases. These provisions are scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Currently, individuals purchasing ammunition may do so in person with no background check required.

With the implementation of the CCIA, the State Police will initiate a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and the Statewide License and Record Database for all firearms purchases. The Statewide License and Record Database will determine if the purchaser is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing or purchasing ammunition.

“What this means for ammunition sales is sellers will be required to contact the State Police Statewide License and Record Database before transferring ammunition to an individual, and must gather the individual’s identification through valid documents, amount of ammunition purchased, caliber, manufacturer’s name and serial number, if applicable,” said Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown). “Sellers of ammunition will also be required to maintain an electronic record of all transactions, including information such as date, name, age, occupation, residency, the amount and specifications of the ammunition and any distinguishing numbers or marks on such ammunition.”

“It’s important for the public to be aware of these new provisions and understand the impact they’ll have on firearms and ammunition purchases. The specific implementation of this remains somewhat of a mystery and the timelines of the purchase process itself are unclear. I will continue to monitor any developments or changes to the implementation plan.”

“It is highly anticipated that delays will occur, and with hunting season around the corner, I urge you to plan accordingly for your needs—it’s undetermined whether you will be able to walk into a gun shop and back out with ammunition on the same day.”

“For more information or to clarify any questions, don’t hesitate to contact my office. We’re committed to providing the best responses we can, though we acknowledge the questions often outnumber answers currently, including for the local gun shops,” Gray concluded.

Editor’s Note: Visit the NYS Police home page (https://troopers.ny.gov/) for updates regarding background checks, operational timeframe, creating an account, FAQs and training guides.