🔹 1. A Majority of Assembly Members Who Support RKBA

A constitutional amendment in New York must pass both chambers in two consecutive legislative sessions. That means:

• 76 votes in the Assembly (simple majority)
• Two separate years of passage
• Then a statewide referendum

Right now, the Assembly has a Democratic supermajority, and the caucus is overwhelmingly opposed to expanding gun rights. Without changing the composition of the chamber, an RKBA amendment simply won’t move.

Translation: You need enough pro‑RKBA legislators elected to flip the political math.

🔹 2. Massive Public Pressure

Even in a hostile legislature, amendments sometimes move when public pressure becomes impossible to ignore. That typically requires:

• Large, sustained grassroots mobilization
• Broad coalition support (not just gun‑rights groups)
• Media pressure
• Polling that shows overwhelming public support
• A clear political cost for inaction

New York’s political culture is strongly gun‑control‑oriented, so shifting public opinion would be a major undertaking.

🔹 3. A Governor Who Signals Support

While the governor does not sign constitutional amendments, their influence over the majority party is enormous. A governor who publicly supports an RKBA amendment could pressure leadership to allow a vote.

Right now, that is not the case.

🔹 4. A Court Decision That Forces Legislative Action (Rare but Possible)

Courts cannot order the Legislature to pass an amendment. But courts can:

• Strike down existing gun laws
• Expand the interpretation of the Second Amendment
• Create legal pressure that makes a state‑level amendment politically attractive or necessary

This is essentially what happened in some other states after major federal rulings.

🔹 5. A Constitutional Convention (The Nuclear Option)

New York voters can call a state constitutional convention every 20 years (next opportunity: 2037). If voters approve it:

• Delegates are elected
• They can propose amendments directly
• The Legislature cannot block them
• Voters then approve or reject the final package

This is the only mechanism that bypasses the Assembly’s gatekeeping power.

It is also politically unpredictable and historically unpopular.

🔥 Bottom Line

To “force” the Assembly to pass an RKBA amendment, you would need one or more of the following:

✔ Flip enough Assembly seats

✔ Build overwhelming public pressure

✔ Get a governor who supports it

✔ Create legal pressure through court rulings

✔ Call a constitutional convention (bypasses the Assembly)

There is no direct citizen‑initiated amendment process in New York.

Flip enough Assembly seats:

As per Wikipedia New York was the state that had the biggest Republican swing out of any state in the nation in the 2024 election, with Trump greatly improving his performance by winning 43.31% of the state’s vote, compared to 36.75% in the 2016 election and 37.74% in 2020. New York followed a trend of blue states, such as Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois and California voting more Republican than in 2020.

The 2026 New York State Assembly election will be held on November 3, 2026. Democrats have held a majority in the New York State Assembly since 1975. It will be held alongside elections for governor, attorney general, comptroller, United States House of Representatives, and State Senate. Get out and vote to Protect the 2nd Amendment.

Build overwhelming public pressure:

New York’s Response to Bruen

• CCIA Legislation: In direct response to the Bruen decision (which struck down NY’s “proper cause” requirement), New York passed the CCIA, adding extensive rules for concealed carry permits.
• Increased Requirements: Owners now face mandatory in-person training, character references, detailed license application procedures (especially in NYC), and restrictions on carrying in “sensitive locations” (like public transit, government buildings, places of worship).
• Ammunition Background Checks: The law also expanded background checks for ammunition purchases and created state databases. 

Impact on Law-Abiding Owners

• Increased Scrutiny: While Bruen intended to make carrying easier for law-abiding citizens, New York’s laws added layers of objective criteria (training, character) that gun rights advocates argue are overly burdensome and effectively suppress the right.
• Legal Challenges: The CCIA faced immediate legal challenges, with courts upholding some aspects but striking down others (like social media disclosure requirements and some sensitive place bans).
• Frustration & Resistance: Many sheriffs and gun owners felt the laws were a reactionary effort to circumvent the Supreme Court’s ruling, leading to criticism and non-compliance in some upstate counties. 

In essence, New York responded to Bruen by creating a heavily regulated framework intended to keep law abiding citizens from protecting themselves. This is not about keeping NY safe it’s about infringing on a Bill of Rights Amendment protected by the U.S. Constitution.

If that won’t make you want to let your Assembly Member know how you feel, what will?

Get a governor who supports it:

In the  2025 Nassau County Executive election, Bruce Blakeman successfully secured re-election as Nassau county executive, defeating Democrat Seth Koslow. The victory came despite Democrats holding a 110,000-voter registration advantage over Republicans in the county. Following several visits to various areas of New York, Blakeman announced on December 9, 2025, that he was entering the race for governor in the 2026 election.

Politico reports that the state affiliate of the NRA is actively investigating Blakeman’s position on firearm access because his record is not well‑defined.

Some conservative activists are skeptical of his 2nd Amenndment record and are withholding support until they see a clearer stance. Blakeman affirms the right to bear arms but also calls for “reasonable restrictions” and awaits details on guidelines after Supreme Court decisions, as noted in his New York State Senate article.

In essence, Blakeman supports gun rights but aligns with balancing them with some regulations, a position that has generated both agreement and challenges.

The 2026 New York gubernatorial race is shaping up to be a major battleground for Second Amendment rights, with candidates like Pat Hahn challenging the current administration’s stance. In 2026 Vote to Defend The 2nd Amendment

UPDATE- 01/19/2026 Assembly Bill A9203 2025-2026 Legislative Session relates to the right to bear and keep arms. Jan 08, 2026 To attorney-general for opinion.

Find Assembly Bill A9203 here.

Find Your Assembly Member here ask them to co-sponsor A9203