# N.Y. PEN Law § 265.01-A: Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds

> New York · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.01-A

## Section

- **Citation:** N.Y. PEN Law § 265.01-A
- **Heading:** Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds
- **Jurisdiction:** New York
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** New York Code / Act PEN / Part 3 / Title P / Article 265 / Section 265.01-A

## Text

§ 265.01-a Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds.\n A person is guilty of criminal possession of a weapon on school\ngrounds when he or she knowingly has in his or her possession a rifle,\nshotgun, or firearm in or upon a building or grounds, used for\neducational purposes, of any school, college, or university, except the\nforestry lands, wherever located, owned, maintained or held in trust for\nthe benefit of the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse\nUniversity, now known as the State University of New York college of\nenvironmental science and forestry, or upon a school bus as defined in\nsection one hundred forty-two of the vehicle and traffic law, without\nthe written authorization of such educational institution; provided,\nhowever no school, as defined in subdivision ten of section eleven\nhundred twenty-five of the education law, shall issue such written\nauthorization to any teacher, school administrator, or other person\nemployed at the school who is not primarily employed as a school\nresource officer, police officer, peace officer, or security guard who\nhas been issued a special armed guard registration card as defined in\nsection eighty-nine-f of the general business law, regardless of whether\nthe person is employed directly by such school or by a third party.\n Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds is a class E felony.\n

## Nearby sections

- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.00 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.00.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.01 Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.01.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.01-A Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.01-A.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.01-B Criminal possession of a firearm](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.01-B.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.01-C Criminal possession of a rapid-fire modification device](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.01-C.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.01-D Criminal possession of a weapon in a restricted location](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.01-D.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.01-E Criminal possession of a firearm, rifle or shotgun in a sensitive location](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.01-E.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.02 Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.02.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.03 Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.03.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.04 Criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.04.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.05 Unlawful possession of weapons by persons under sixteen](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.05.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.06 Unlawful possession of a weapon upon school grounds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.06.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.07 Registration and serialization of firearms, rifles, shotguns, finished frames or receivers, and unfinished frames or receivers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.07.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 265.08 Criminal use of a firearm in the second degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.08.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TP_A265_S265.01-A. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.