S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3126
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 23, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to qualified firearms
instructors
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 19 of section 265.00 of the penal law, as
amended by chapter 371 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as
follows:
19. "Duly authorized instructor" means (a) a duly commissioned officer
of the United States army, navy, 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
or marine corps, or by the adjutant general of this state, or by the
division of criminal justice services, or by the national rifle associ-
ation of America, a not-for-profit corporation duly organized under the
laws of this state; (c) by a person duly qualified and designated by the
department of environmental conservation as its agent in the giving of
instruction and the making of certifications of qualification in respon-
sible hunting practices; [or] (d) a New York state 4-H certified shoot-
ing sports instructor; OR (E) A QUALIFIED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR.
§ 2. Section 265.00 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi-
vision 37 to read as follows:
37. "QUALIFIED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HOLDS A
CERTIFICATE AS A FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR FROM AN ASSOCIATION OR ORGANIZATION
RECOGNIZED BY THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES.
§ 3. Paragraph 7-b of subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal
law, as amended by chapter 511 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read
as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07001-01-5
S. 3126 2
7-b. Possession and use, at an indoor or outdoor pistol range located
in or on premises owned or occupied by a duly incorporated organization
organized for conservation purposes or to foster proficiency in small
arms or at a target pistol shooting competition under the auspices of or
approved by the national rifle association for the purpose of loading
and firing the same, by a person who has applied for a license to
possess a pistol or revolver and pre-license possession of same pursuant
to section 400.00 or 400.01 of this chapter, who has not been previously
denied a license, been previously convicted of a felony or serious
offense, and who does not appear to be, or pose a threat to be, a danger
to [himself] THEMSELF or to others, and who has been approved for
possession and use herein in accordance with section 400.00 or 400.01 of
this chapter; provided however, that such possession shall be of a
pistol or revolver duly licensed to and shall be used under the super-
vision, guidance and instruction of, a person specified in paragraph
seven of this subdivision, OR A QUALIFIED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, and
provided further that such possession and use be within the jurisdiction
of the licensing officer with whom the person has made application
therefor or within the jurisdiction of the superintendent of state
police in the case of a retired sworn member of the division of state
police who has opted to make an application pursuant to section 400.01
of this chapter.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.