What's happening
This bill removes the maximum age limit for firearms instruction exemptions, allowing individuals over twelve or fourteen to participate under supervision.
Why it matters
Expands access to supervised firearms instruction. By removing the upper age limits, the bill allows individuals of any age (as long as they are at least twelve or fourteen, depending on the provision) to participate in firearms training under proper supervision, rather than restricting these exemptions to minors only.
Potentially increases opportunities for adult beginners. Adults with no prior firearms experience—who may have previously been excluded from supervised training environments due to age—can now legally learn to handle firearms in controlled, supervised settings.
May impact public safety and training standards. By broadening who can be exempted during supervised instruction, the bill could encourage safer firearm handling practices among a wider population, but may also prompt debate about oversight, qualifications of instructors, and the environments in which such training occurs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Remove Gun Training Age Cap
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
End Age Cap on Gun Lessons
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor David DiPietro
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
201
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
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 removing the maximum age limit for firearms instruction exemptions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, 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 years of age, 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02723-01-9
S. 201 2
§ 2. Paragraph 7-c of subdivision (a) of section 265.20 of the penal law, as added by chapter 651 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
7-c. Possession for the purpose of loading and firing, of a rifle, pistol or shotgun, the propelling force of which may be either air, compressed gas or springs, by a person [under sixteen years of age but] not under twelve years of age, under the immediate supervision, guidance and instruction of (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 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.
§ 3. Paragraph 7-e of subdivision (a) of section 265.20 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 281 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
7-e. Possession and use of a pistol or revolver, 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 an association or organization described in paragraph [7-a] seven-a of this subdivision for the purpose of loading and firing the same by a person at least fourteen years of age [but under the age of twenty-one] who has not 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 or to others; provided however, that such possession shall be of a pistol or revolver duly licensed to and shall be used under the immediate supervision, guidance and instruction of, a person specified in paragraph seven of this subdivision.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 removing the maximum age limit for firearms instruction exemptions
Purpose
Would allow any individual over the age of 12 to receive firearm instruction.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends paragraph 7 of subdivision (a) of section 265.20 of the penal law to remove language limiting firearm instruction to individuals between the ages of 12 and 16.
Section 2 amends paragraph 7-c of subdivision (a) of section 265.20 of the penal law remove language limiting firearm instruction to individ- uals between the ages of 12 and 16.
Section 3 amends paragraph 7-e of subdivision (a) of section 265.20 of the penal law remove language limiting firearm instruction to individ- uals between the ages of 12 and 16
Section 4 is the effective date.
Justification
Under current law, individuals between the age of 12 and 18 can receive firearms trainings from qualified individuals. However, this allowance is incredibly limited in scope and prevents numerous individuals who have an interest in firearms training from being eligible to receive training prior to possessing a license.
Legislative history
S. 7121 Referred to Codes Committee.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.