Authorizes children 10 years of age or older to load and fire a rifle, shotgun or pistol at a shooting range while under the supervision of a qualified person; increases from 18 to 21 years of age the minimum age of a person who may be designated in writing by the parent or guardian of a child to supervise such child while he or she is shooting.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5440
SPONSOR: Salka TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the penal law, in relation to lowering
from 12 years to 10 years the minimum age of a child authorized to
engage in supervised loading and firing of rifles, shotguns and pistols,
and increasing from 18 years to 21 years the minimum age of the desig-
nated supervisor of such a child
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Authorizes children 10 years of age or older to load and fire a rifle,
shotgun or pistol at a shooting range while under the supervision of a
qualified person.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Paragraphs 7, 7-c and 7-d of subdivision a of section 265.20
of the penal law, paragraph 7 as amended by chapter 180 of the laws of
1998, and paragraphs 7-c and 7-d as added by chapter 651 of the laws of
1996, are amended by changing the minimum age of a person allowed to
load and fire a rifle or shotgun at a supervised shooting range from 12
years to 10 years. In addition, the minimum age requirement of a parent,
guardian or person designated by certificate of qualification to super-
vise minors at a shooting range is changed from 18 years to 21 years.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, youth scholastic shooting sports competitions such as target
and clay pigeon shooting competitions are unable to be held in New York
State due to the minimum age requirement of a participant of 12 years.
Other states such as Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin allow a
minimum age of participants in supervised shooting competitions of 10
years. By lowering the minimum age to 10 years, sportsmanship clubs and
associations can now begin to host the competitions in their home state.
Hosting national competitions in New York State will not only benefit
the student athletes by allowing them to apply for additional grants and
scholarships, but also stimulate the local upstate economy due to the
increased tourism. New York State student athletes in this sport are
also at a competitive disadvantage on the national scale due to the 12
year age restriction and often find their level of capability to be
behind their age group when competing in national competitions. This
bill would allow New York State to host national target shooting compe-
titions and level the playing field for New York State student athletes
who choose to compete in this particular sport.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.4699 of 2017-18
A.4058A of 2011-12.
A.182 of 2013-14.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become law.
