by M.C. Millman 

As of Wednesday, September 13, all ammunition purchases in New York will require a background check processed by the New York State Police on behalf of the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check system. 

The new law was decades in the making and is part of the New York SAFE Act, which mandates that State police take over gun background checks and begin ammunition checks as well. To stay compliant, all Firearms and Ammunition Dealers must register here.

Additionally, background checks are also required to transfer ammunition between intermediaries, causing fears of an increased burden on organized shooting sports.

The new system comes with transaction fees, which are expected to finance the program. Buying a gun will now come with a $9 fee, and ammunition will cost an additional $2.50 per transaction.

Gun advocates, as well as sportsmen and hunters, have expressed concerns over the new system. While gun sellers have been able to do a background check in minutes from their own computers, this will no longer be the case as they must now submit all applications and documentation to the state police. The same amount of documentation will be required before buying ammunition, creating backlogs given the sheer volume of requests flooding the new office.