This Legislature hereby finds and determines that it is necessary
for the security, safety, protection and general well-being of the
County's employees and the public at large to place restrictions
on the bearing and possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons
or instruments by individuals while entering into and being present
in buildings owned, leased and/or operated by the County of Suffolk.
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to prohibit individuals
from carrying any weapons or dangerous instruments into buildings
owned, leased and/or operated by the County.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
LAW OFFICER
Any police officer, deputy sheriff, court officer or peace
officer whose special duties include maintaining order and security
in buildings owned, leased and/or operated by the County of Suffolk.
WEAPON or DANGEROUS INSTRUMENT
Any firearms, gun, explosive device or substance, lethal
or debilitating chemical or gas or any dangerous or deadly weapon
or instrument of any description, including but not limited to a handgun,
pistol, target pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, dangerous knife,
dagger, dirk, razor, stiletto or imitation pistol.
This article shall not apply to any authorized police officer;
to any peace officer, as defined in § 2.10 of the New York
Criminal Procedure Law, who has obtained a firearms license as required
by law and who is carrying the weapon or dangerous instrument during
hours permitted by law; to ballistics experts; or to any other authorized
official of the County, state or federal government. Such weapons
or dangerous instruments may only be brought into County buildings
during the hours that the above officers or officials are permitted
to carry such items.
This article shall apply to any actions occurring on or after
the effective date of this article. In the event of a conflict between
the provisions of this article and the duly authorized rules of any
pertinent court for a court facility, the rules of the court shall
prevail.
Any person who willfully violates §
730-3 of this article shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.