S1026 introduces an optional self-imposed waiver allowing individuals to voluntarily give up their right to purchase firearms, rifles, or shotguns. Once filed with the Division of State Police, the waiver is recorded, and the person is added to state and national background-check systems to block firearm purchases. Individuals can revoke the waiver anytime; revocations take effect 21 days after submission.
The New York State Senate passed S1026 on June 9, 2025 by a vote of 47 to 15. We have assigned pluses to the nays because it is impossible for an individual to lawfully waive a right that is God-given and unalienable. The Second Amendment clearly affirms that "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." By promoting the idea that citizens may voluntarily surrender this and their Ninth Amendment rights, S1026 undermines the very nature of unalienable rights—which exist independent of government and cannot be stripped away by personal declaration. This measure subtly conditions citizens to believe their rights are mere privileges granted by the state, rather than protections rooted in natural law and secured by the Constitution. In reality, once government begins legitimizing the surrender of God-given rights, it erodes the foundation of liberty and opens the door for broader infringements in the future.
