What's happening
This bill allows children ages 10 to 12 to possess and fire rifles or shotguns at shooting ranges under strict adult supervision.
Why it matters
Expands supervised shooting access for children ages 10-12. , potentially increasing youth involvement in shooting sports, firearms education, and family recreational activities under tightly controlled circumstances.
Establishes strict supervision requirements. , limiting who can oversee these minors to certified military officers, qualified instructors, parents/guardians (with safety certification), or trained environmental conservation agents—aiming to maximize safety and responsibility.
Imposes specific safety controls. , including a one-on-one supervisor-to-child ratio and a rule that only one shell or cartridge may be loaded at a time, to minimize risks and accidents during shooting activities.
May affect ongoing debates around youth firearm access and public safety. , potentially influencing opinions on gun policy, youth education, and hunting traditions in New York State.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Kids Use Guns Supervised
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 61
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3708
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 26, 2017
Introduced by Sens. RANZENHOFER, FUNKE, LARKIN, SEWARD -- 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 possession of a rifle or shotgun at a shooting range by a person between the ages of ten and twelve
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal law is amended by adding a new paragraph 7-g to read as follows:
7-g. 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 twelve years of age but not under 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 organized 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 conservation; 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, provided that the person providing guidance may provide supervision to only one person between the age of ten and sixteen at any one time, and the firearm
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07952-01-7
S. 3708 2
being loaded and fired may be loaded with no more than one shell or cartridge at any time.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to possession of a rifle or shotgun at a shooting range by a person between the ages of ten and twelve
Purpose or general idea of bill
To reduce by two years the age at which one may participate in certain limited sport shooting safety programs.
Summary of specific provisions
Subdivision a. of Section 265.20 of the Penal Law is amended by adding a new paragraph 7-f.
Justification
Section 265.20(a)(7) of the Penal Law provides an exemption to a number of "criminal possession of weapon" statutes, allowing a person twelve years of age, among others, to possess, load, and fire any caliber rifle or shotgun when supervised by certain specified trained persons.
This bill would allow persons between ten and twelve years of age to possess any rifle or shotgun for instruction under certain, more limited and strictly regulated circumstances. These regulations include identifying the persons who may supervise and instruct, requiring that while the supervisor is instructing this person, he or she may not supervise any other person between the ages of ten and sixteen, and requiring that only one shell or cartridge may be loaded at a time.
This bill is introduced at the request of the Genesee County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs to promote sporting activities within families and further promote safe and proper practices in gun handling and safety.
Prior legislative history
2011-2012 - S.3524 - CODES 2013-14 - S.2346 - CODES 2015-16 - S.991 -- CODES
Fiscal implications
This legislation has no fiscal implications.
Effective date
This act shall take effect sixty days after the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.