New York's Safe Storage Law in Plain English
When NY Penal Law 265.45 applies, what counts as safe storage at home and in the car, and how locks, lockboxes and safes compare.
Every gun we sell in New York leaves our counter with a lock. That’s the law. And there’s a sign by our register explaining why. Most people read the first line and stop.
Here is the rest of it, in plain English. The law is New York Penal Law §265.45. It was rewritten in 2022, and it covers more than most people expect.
When the home rule applies
The home part of the law applies if you own or look after a gun and you live with someone who is:
- under 18, or
- someone you know, or have reason to know, can’t legally have a gun. That covers people under an extreme risk protection order, people with certain convictions, and people under some federal bans, like those with a domestic violence conviction or a protective order against them.
If that’s your household, any gun that isn’t in your immediate possession or control has to be locked up. "Immediate possession or control" means on you or right next to you. A gun in the nightstand while you’re at work isn’t in your control. A gun in the closet while you’re in the yard isn’t either.
The age used to be 16. In 2022 New York raised it to 18. If you have a 17-year-old at home, the law now applies to you.
The car rule applies to everyone
This is the part people miss. Since September 1, 2022, the vehicle rule applies to everyone, kids in the house or not.
If you leave a gun in your car and walk away, it has to be:
- unloaded,
- locked in a safe storage container,
- out of sight from outside the car.
A glove box doesn’t count. The law says so in plain words. The State Police say a lockable, hard-sided case or vehicle safe, plastic or aluminum, will do. Leaving a gun under the seat while you run into the deli doesn’t meet the rule.
What counts as safe storage
The law gives you two options.
A gun locking device. A lock that makes the gun unable to fire. A cable lock through the action, or a trigger lock built for that gun. New York requires dealers to hand you one with every gun sold. It’s in the box or the bag when you leave here.
A safe storage depository. The law describes it: a safe or other secure container that can’t be opened without the key, keypad, combination or other unlocking mechanism. It has to keep out anyone who isn’t allowed in. And it has to be "fire, impact, and tamper resistant."
The law doesn’t name a brand, a steel thickness or a fire rating. That’s left to you. Use common sense: a container that a teenager with a butter knife can open isn’t the point.
Locks vs lockboxes vs safes
All three can meet the law. They do different jobs.
Cable and trigger locks. Cheap, and you already have one. They’re fine for a gun that’s put away and not needed fast. The gun is still there for anyone to carry off, though. A lock stops it from firing. It doesn’t stop it from being stolen.
Handgun vaults and lockboxes. A small steel box, often with a keypad or fingerprint reader. Good for the gun you want close at night. Bolt it to something. A lockbox that can walk out the door under someone’s arm protects less than you’d think.
Full safes. The answer once you own more than a couple of guns, or anything long. A safe keeps out kids, guests and most burglars. Many also slow down fire. And a safe on Long Island needs a plan for damp air, which we’ll cover in next week’s post on choosing one.
A lot of people end up using all three. A safe for the collection, a vault by the bed, and the locks from the box for transport.
A change coming January 19
On October 21, 2026, the Governor signed Francesco’s Law (A.1962-B, Chapter 315 of 2026). Starting January 19, 2027, the home rule won’t depend on who lives with you anymore. Every gun owner will have to lock up any gun that isn’t in their immediate possession or control. The law also changes how violations are charged.
It was signed with an approval memo, which usually means the Legislature has agreed to make some changes to it, so the details may still shift before January. We’ll post an update when it takes effect. Until January 19, the rules above are the ones in force.
What we tell people at the counter
Even if the law doesn’t technically cover your house, lock it up. Grandkids visit. Contractors come and go. Break-ins happen in Suffolk like everywhere else. Most stolen guns come out of homes and cars, not stores.
Lock it up when it isn’t on you. Keep the ammo separate if you can. And don’t keep it in the car.
If you inherited guns and aren’t sure what you have or how to store them, start here.
Starting Sunday: 11 days of surplus
From Sunday, November 1 through Veterans Day, we’re giving away one piece of military surplus every day: a 1918 canteen, a sealed WWII poncho, an M1 Garand bayonet and more.
- No purchase necessary. Buying something doesn’t get you more entries. Neither does a membership.
- One free entry per person per day. Enter online at ligunsource.com/giveaway, or scan the QR code at our counter. Each day’s entries go into that day’s drawing.
- One winner every day, Nov 1 to Nov 11. Open to New York residents 18 and older. Winners pick up in Medford.
Official rules at ligunsource.com/giveaway.
In the meantime, come look at locks, vaults and safes at the shop. We’ll help you figure out what fits your house and what you own.
Long Island Gun Source, 2291 Route 112, Medford. (631) 320-9500. Closed Mondays.
Info only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with your licensing authority.