Governor Cuomo Signs Senator Avella and Assembly Member Weprin’s Machete Bill Into Law

Queens, NY - Governor Cuomo signed Senator Avella and Assembly Member Weprin’s machete bill (S3199-B/A8214-B) into law. The new law will allow an individual who uses a machete with the intent to harm another person to be charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

While a machete has many practical uses, including use in farming, hunting and hiking, it has become the weapon of choice in a frightening number of assaults in recent years.  In criminal cases involving the use of a machete prosecutors have been unable to include in the list of charges “criminal possession of a weapon” because machetes were not in the enumerated list of instruments which could trigger such a charge. Senator Avella’s bill corrects this oversight once and for all so that anyone looking to inflict harm with a machete will suffer the consequences. What the bill does not do is ban the machete, as has often been misinterpreted, it simply states that if you use a machete with the intent to harm you will be charged accordingly.

Senator Avella first introduced this legislation in early 2015 in response to the increase in machete attacks in New York. Unfortunately the bill was only able to pass the Senate in June of that year. However, working alongside Assembly Member Weprin the bill was successfully able to move through both houses earlier this year.

“By receiving the Governor’s signature, my bill allows law enforcement to charge an individual with criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree if they used it with the intention of inflicting harm against another person,” said Avella. “I appreciate Assembly Member Weprin’s efforts to get the bill passed in the Assembly and I commend the Governor for recognizing the importance of this legislation and giving law enforcement yet another means of bringing criminals to justice.”

Assembly Member Weprin thanked Governor Cuomo for taking action saying, “These attacks have had lifelong effects on the victims and have had psychological effects on New Yorkers as they go about their daily lives yet fearing they could be the target of another random, fearless attack. This piece of legislation will undoubtedly serve as a deterrent by increasing the legal criminal charge and make perpetrators think twice about their consequences.”