BILL NUMBER:A10719
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the penal law, in relation to permitting
supervised youth ten years of age and older to possess a rifle or shot-
gun at a shooting range
PURPOSE: To allow youth ages 10 and older to participate in shooting
competitions and to possess a firearm under controlled supervision.
Allowing youth ages 10 and older to possess, use, and learn first-hand
knowledge about firearms provides for a safer environment when the youth
turns of legal age (twelve) to obtain a hunting license, as they will
already know proper safety, use and handling techniques.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: This bill would amend section 265.20 of the Penal
Law to reduce the minimum age for possession and use of a rifle or shot-
gun at a shooting range from 12 to 10 years of age, provided that the
youth is under the immediate supervision, guidance and instruction of a
qualified adult.
JUSTIFICATION: Section 265.20 (a) (7) of the Penal Law currently
provides an exemption to certain statues relating to the criminal
possession of a weapon to allow young people twelve years of age and
older to possess, load and fire rifles or shotguns at a shooting grange
when supervised by an appropriately qualified adult. The age criteria in
this provision prevents young people under the age of twelve from
participating in the Scholastic Clay Target Program, a youth development
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10719
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 16, 2010
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MAGEE, DelMONTE, BARCLAY, OAKS -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to permitting supervised
youth ten years of age and older to possess a rifle or shotgun at a
shooting range
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph 7 of subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal
law, as amended by chapter 180 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read
as follows:
7. Possession, at an indoor or outdoor shooting range for the purpose
of loading and firing, of a rifle or shotgun, the propelling force of
which is gunpowder by a person under sixteen years of age but not under
[twelve] TEN, under the immediate supervision, guidance and instruction
of (a) a duly commissioned officer of the United States army, navy, air
force, marine corps or coast guard, or of the national guard of the
state of New York; or (b) a duly qualified adult citizen of the United
States who has been granted a certificate as an instructor in small arms
practice issued by the United States army, navy, air force or marine
corps, or by the adjutant general of this state, or by the national
rifle association of America, a not-for-profit corporation duly organ-
ized under the laws of this state; or (c) a parent, guardian, or a
person over the age of eighteen designated in writing by such parent or
guardian who shall have a certificate of qualification in responsible
hunting, including safety, ethics, and landowner relations-hunter
relations, issued or honored by the department of environmental conser-
vation; or (d) an agent of the department of environmental conservation
appointed to conduct courses in responsible hunting practices pursuant
to article eleven of the environmental conservation law.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15594-01-0
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